Research
Our aims at advancing the knowledge on the biosynthetic and signalling pathways of both the photosynthetic machinery, largely composed of multiprotein complexes, and of the multi-component enzyme systems involved in cyanobacterial toxin production. We address the integration of the energy converting pathways with the production of secondary metabolites, toxins and other bioactive compounds, which have vital roles in regulation of various functions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Cyanobacterial hydrogen production is a new initiative for Finnish science to enhance research towards environmentally clean and renewable energy production.
The research thus focuses on environmentally, ecologically and biotechnologically significant cyanobacteria and on important cyanobacterial and higher plant model organisms used in photosynthesis research. We utilize genome sequence information, produced by ourselves or retrieved from public databases, mutational approaches, gene expression profiling, proteome and metabolome analysis to build a systems biology level understanding on factors involved in regulation and biogenesis of the photosynthetic apparatus, in biohydrogen production and in non-ribosomal enzymatic production of bioactive compounds. Emphasis is put on novel proteins, protein post-translational modifications and protein-protein interactions involved in these processes. The hydrogen-producing capacity of Finnish cyanobacteria will be addressed and a systematic development of methods to improve the production of biohydrogen as renewable energy source will be initiated.
New bioactive compounds from cyanobacteria and selected non-photosynthetic microbes are also in the pipeline of this research, including molecules known to modify enzyme activities and apoptosis, thus having a great potential as cell biology reagents and drugs. The role of these molecules in the cyanobacterial hosts and their function in plants will be investigated. One particular aim of this project is to find answers to the questions on why and especially how the toxic genotypes proliferate in nature and form harmful mass occurrences. Based on our preliminary chlorophyll a fluorescence fingerprinting experiments we anticipate regulatory connections between the efficiency of photosynthesis, production of toxins and the mass occurrences. The lessons learned may prove instrumental for creating understanding of the formation of microbial mats, biofilms and non-ribosomally synthesized toxins also by non-photosynthetic organisms.
Web pages of the research groups in CoE:
- Professor Eva-Mari Aro: Photosynthetic membrane protein complexes: biogenesis, regulation and signalling
- Academy professor Kaarina Sivonen: The Cyanobacteria Group
- Professor Mirja Salkinoja-Salonen: Bioactive microbes
- Docent Paula Mulo: Chloroplast components of alternative electron transfer
- Docent Saijaliisa Kangasjärvi: Cross-talk between light acclimation and defence reactions in plants.