Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Cryptophyte algae employ a unique system of free floating phycobiliproteins that shuttle photosynthetic excitations to membrane bound chlorophyll a/c complexes which are connected to the photosystem reaction center (Larkum, 2010). Using absorption, emission and excitation spectroscopy, we attempt to determine, firstly, the manner in which the algae absorb incoming photons and then shuttle the excitation from the outlying peripheral proteins to the core complex reaction centers and secondly, how efficient this process is within the organism. The complex relationship between light harvesting efficiency and the antenna proteins was examined by performing experiments on organisms that varied in antenna structure both energetically and structurally. The adaptability to varying environmental conditions was also studied by exposing organisms to varying ambient light intensity, a factor which is known to influence photosynthetic efficiency (Falkowski Owens, 1980). Contributions of alternate dissipative pathways were determined by chemically decoupling key systems in the electron transport chain.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Scott John McKay
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2566592075