Research, Department of Plant Physiology, Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Tartu

	Physical studies of biologically relevant molecules and molecular complexes.
	Poster of biophysic research group: BTF2.pdf
	Summary. Peculiarities of collective quantum excitations in nanoscopic biomolecular complexes, functional mechanisms of ribosome, and barochromic effects in the spectra of molecular complexes governed by intermolecular interactions are studied. Some studies are being performed on single molecules. The single molecule measurements remove the ensemble averaging and allow constructing the probability distribution functions for experimental parameters of the particular molecule. We are also interested in applications of our basic science findings, e.g., in artificial light converters. A unique combination of advanced spectroscopic techniques (such as ultrafast, spectrally selective, and high-pressure spectroscopies) is applied together with modern MM/QC simulation and data analysis methods. A close collaboration with Prof. J. Remme is foreseen in studying functional mechanisms of ribosome. Strong cooperation is also established with a number of foreign groups from CNRS Saclay, University of Jyväskylä, Lund University, Autonomous University of Madrid, Paris XI University, Sheffield University, Sidney University, and Vilnius Institute of Physics who either provide the samples or necessary theoretical expertise.

	Plant photosynthesis and its relations to environmental conditions.
	Scientific Project for 2003-2007 funded by Estonian Government.

	Summary. Factors and processes controlling the photosynthetic rate of wild type and transgenic plants are investigated under normal and stress conditions in the laboratory and in natural plant communities using contemporary biophysical and physiological methods. In focus are such parameters of the photosynthetic machinery as photosystems II and I, interphotosystem electron transport through Cytochrome b6f and kinetics/activity of Rubisco.

	Functional relations between plant structure and physiological activity.
	Project for 2003-2007 funded by the Estonian Ministry of Education and Science (Grant 0182468As03).

	ISONET - Ecologocal and physiological functions of biogenic isoprenoids and their impact on the environment.
	Project funded by European Commission (MRTN-CT-2003-504720)
	ISONET web page: http://imk-ifu.fzk.de/isonet/

	Summary. Isoprenoid synthesis occurs in many species of herbs, trees and shrubs. The studies on isoprenoids synthesis at eco-physiological level have clearly indicated that these compounds may have multiple roles in plants and that, once emitted they may become important components of the atmosphere. Therefore, it is not surprising that a number of European research groups have been very active in investigating the molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology and ecology of plant isoprenoids. We have now brought some of these groups together in a research training network (SEI) to initiate a "functional genomics" approach to the study of plant isoprenoids. By integrating studies from the molecular to the ecological level, we hope to answer many of the unsolved questions concerning the role of isoprenoids in plants and in the atmosphere. The two major scientific objectives of the network are to elucidate the roles of isoprenoids a) stored in specialised plant structures and b) non-stored in specialised plant structures and emitted in the atmosphere. The third important objective of SEI is to supply information at a mechanistic and physiological level, that can be used to improve current estimates, parameterisation, and modelling of isoprenoid emission.