Photosynthesis

Gordon Research Conference

June 12 - 17, 2011
Chair
Vice Chair

Conference Description

Photosynthesis is the biological process that converts solar energy into chemical energy. Elucidation of the mechanisms of photosynthetic energy conversion at a molecular level is fundamentally important for understanding the biology of photosynthetic organisms, for optimizing biological solar fuels production, and for developing biologically inspired approaches to solar energy conversion. The 2011 Gordon Conference on Photosynthesis will present cutting-edge research focusing on the biochemical aspects of photosynthesis, including:

  • structure, assembly, and function of photosynthetic complexes
  • the mechanism of water splitting by PSII
  • light harvesting and quenching
  • alternative electron transport pathways
  • biosynthesis of pigments and cofactors
  • improvement of photosynthesis for bioenergy and food production

Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of photosynthesis research, a diverse group of invited speakers will represent a variety of scientific approaches to investigate photosynthesis, such as biochemistry, molecular genetics, structural biology, systems biology, and spectroscopy. Highly interactive poster sessions provide opportunities for graduate students and postdocs to present their work and exchange ideas with leaders in the field. One of the highlights of the Conference is a session featuring short talks by junior investigators selected from the poster presentations. The collegial atmosphere of the Photosynthesis GRC, with programmed discussion sessions as well as informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, enables participants to brainstorm, exchange ideas, and forge new collaborations.

For the second time, this Conference will be immediately preceded by a Gordon Research Seminar on Photosynthesis (June 11-12, 2011, at the same location), with a focus on “Photosynthesis, Bioenergy, and the Environment.” The GRS provides an additional opportunity for graduate students and postdocs to present their research, and it provides a mechanism to encourage active participation by junior scientists interested in photosynthesis and its applications.

Related Meeting

This GRC will be held in conjunction with the "Photosynthesis" Gordon Research Seminar (GRS). Those interested in attending both meetings must submit an application for the GRS in addition to an application for the GRC. Refer to the associated GRS program page for more information.

Conference Program

SUNDAY
2:00 pm - 9:00 pmArrival and Check-in (Office Closed 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm)
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 7:40 pmWelcome / Introductory Comments by GRC Site Staff
7:40 pm - 9:30 pmPSII Structure and Water Splitting
Discussion Leader: Richard Debus (University of California, Riverside)
7:45 pm - 8:30 pmKeynote Lecture: Jian-Ren Shen (Okayama University)
"Atomic structure of photosystem II that enables photosynthetic water-splitting"
8:30 pm - 8:50 pmDiscussion
8:50 pm - 9:20 pmJohannes Messinger (Umeå University)
"Biophysical perceptions of the structure and mechanism of the water-oxidizing complex in photosystem II"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pmDiscussion
MONDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
8:30 amGroup Photo
9:00 am - 12:30 pmPhotosystem Assembly and Dynamics
9:00 am - 9:20 amDiscussion Leader: Carolyn Wetzel (Smith College)
9:20 am - 9:50 amJörg Nickelsen (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)
"Coordination of photosystem II assembly in cyanobacteria"
9:50 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 amCoffee Break
10:30 am - 11:00 amPeter Nixon (Imperial College London)
"Structural aspects of photosystem II assembly and repair"
11:00 am - 11:10 amDiscussion
11:10 am - 11:40 amRalph Bock (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology)
"Assembly factors for photosystem I biogenesis in higher plants"
11:40 am - 11:50 amDiscussion
11:50 am - 12:20 pmAlexander Vener (Linköping University)
"Combinatorial protein phosphorylation controlling composition and dynamics of thylakoid complexes"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmLight Harvesting
7:30 pm - 7:50 pmDiscussion Leader: Dion Durnford (University of New Brunswick)
7:50 pm - 8:20 pmGreg Engel (University of Chicago)
"Exploring and exploiting the robustness of coherent energy transfer in photosynthetic antenna complexes"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pmDiscussion
8:30 pm - 9:00 pmRoberta Croce (University of Groningen)
"Light-harvesting in the supercomplexes - influence of antenna size and composition on excitation energy transfer"
9:00 pm - 9:10 pmDiscussion
9:10 pm - 9:30 pmGeneral Discussion (including posters)
TUESDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmPhoto-oxidative Stress, Signaling, and Photoprotection
9:00 am - 9:20 amDiscussion Leader: Diana Kirilovsky (CEA Saclay)
9:20 am - 9:50 amMatt Johnson (Queen Mary University of London)
"Light harvesting regulation - a structural perspective"
9:50 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 amCoffee Break
10:30 am - 11:00 amThuy Truong (University of California, Berkeley)
"LHCSRs and qE in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii"
11:00 am - 11:10 amDiscussion
11:10 am - 11:40 amMichael Hippler (University of Muenster)
"The chloroplast calcium sensor CAS is required for photoprotection in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii"
11:40 am - 11:50 amDiscussion
11:50 am - 12:20 pmShunichi Takahashi (The Australian National University)
"Dark side of sunlight: photoinhibition and photoprotection mechanisms"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmPigment Biosynthesis and Turnover
7:30 pm - 7:50 pmDiscussion Leader: Don Bryant (Pennsylvania State University)
7:50 pm - 8:20 pmYuichi Fujita (Nagoya University)
"Structure-based functional analysis on dark-operative protochlorophyllide reductase"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pmDiscussion
8:30 pm - 9:00 pmShizue Matsubara (Forschungszentrum Juelich)
"Homeostatic control of carotene levels in leaves"
9:00 pm - 9:10 pmDiscussion
9:10 pm - 9:30 pmGeneral Discussion (including posters)
WEDNESDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmElectron Transport Pathways
9:00 am - 9:20 amDiscussion Leader: David Kramer (Plant Research Laboratory/Michigan State University)
9:20 am - 9:50 amCatherine de Vitry (Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris)
"Compromised heme-binding to cytochrome b6/f: a functional and biochemical characterization"
9:50 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 amCoffee Break
10:30 am - 11:00 amStefano Santabarbara (Università degli Studi di Milan)
"Control of electron transfer directionality in photosystem I"
11:00 am - 11:10 amDiscussion
11:10 am - 11:40 amToshiharu Shikanai (Kyoto University)
"Machinery and assembly of PSI cyclic electron transport"
11:40 am - 11:50 amDiscussion
11:50 am - 12:20 pmSteve Rodermel (Iowa State University)
"Suppressors of immutans provide insight into alternate pathways of photosynthetic electron transport"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:00 pm - 7:30 pmBusiness Meeting
Nominations for the next Vice Chair; Fill out Conference Evaluation Forms; Discuss future Site & Scheduling preferences; Election of the next Vice Chair
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmGenomics and Systems Approaches
7:30 pm - 7:50 pmDiscussion Leader: Sabeeha Merchant (University of California, Los Angeles)
7:50 pm - 8:20 pmHimadri Pakrasi (Washington University)
"Systems level analysis of photosynthetic life styles of cyanobacteria"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pmDiscussion
8:30 pm - 9:00 pmLadislav Nedbal (Institute of Systems Biology and Ecology, Czech Republic)
"E-photosynthesis: Web based platform for modeling of complex photosynthetic processes"
9:00 pm - 9:10 pmDiscussion
9:10 pm - 9:30 pmGeneral Discussion (including posters)
THURSDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmBiofuels from Photosynthetic Microbes
9:00 am - 9:20 amDiscussion Leader: Alison Smith (University of Cambridge)
9:20 am - 9:50 amNanette Boyle (University of California, Los Angeles)
"Desperately Seq-ing nitrogen on the way to biodiesel"
9:50 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 amCoffee Break
10:30 am - 11:00 amWim Vermaas (Arizona State University)
"Cyanobacteria as solar-powered biocatalysts for fatty acid production"
11:00 am - 11:10 amDiscussion
11:10 am - 11:40 amAnastasios Melis (University of California, Berkeley)
"Photosynthesis for hydrogen and isoprene production"
11:40 am - 11:50 amDiscussion
11:50 am - 12:20 pmUrsula Goodenough (Washington University)
"Chloroplast involvement in Chlamydomonas lipid-body formation"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 8:30 pmRecognition of Junior Investigators
7:30 pm - 7:40 pmShort Talk (selected from posters)
7:40 pm - 7:45 pmDiscussion
7:45 pm - 7:55 pmShort Talk (selected from posters)
7:55 pm - 8:00 pmDiscussion
8:00 pm - 8:10 pmShort Talk (selected from posters)
8:10 pm - 8:15 pmDiscussion
8:15 pm - 8:25 pmShort Talk (selected from posters)
8:25 pm - 8:30 pmDiscussion
8:30 pm - 9:30 pmImproving Photosynthesis
8:30 pm - 9:10 pmKeynote Lecture: Don Ort (USDA/ARS, University of Illinois)
"Photosynthetic efficiency: limits and opportunities"
9:10 pm - 9:30 pmDiscussion
FRIDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 amDeparture

Contributors

Conference Links

Conference History Photosynthesis (GRS)
Find a Conference

California Wildfire Update (as of 1/13/2025 at 5PM EST) - We are currently operating safely at all California venues and all conferences are scheduled to proceed as planned. click here for more details