Laboratory of photosynthesis does fundamental research in microbial photosynthesis and also applies it to constructing photosynthetic measuring devices. The important characteristic of the laboratory is its multidisciplinary approach, which combines biophysics, molecular biology, evolutionary biology, biochemistry, physiology and classical microbiology. Topics in five principal, overlapping areas are studied by individual groups, each led by a single senior scientist:

Biogenesis of photosystems and global regulatory networks - Josef Komenda

Mostly using a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 our group deals with mechanisms of the assembly and maintenance of photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes. We focuse primarily on the role of structural subunits and auxiliary proteins in the assembly of the photosystems and on the engagement of cyanobacterial FtsH proteases in degradation of proteins participating in this process, but also on the superior role of FtsHs in regulation of cellular homeostasis. We further investigate the possibilities of bioengineering of global regulatory networks, especially the NtcA pathway, for production of valuable substances.

Microbial photosynthesis - Ondřej Prášil

The research objectives of our group are focused mainly on photosynthetic processes in cyanobacteria and other microalgae on a scale ranging from molecular mechanisms to biogeochemical implications. At the subcellular level we rely heavily on fluorescence microscopy to investigate the mobility of photosynthetic proteins and their organization within the thylakoid membrane. Furthermore, our research extends to the physiology of phototrophs at a single-cell level, such as the role of cell-to-cell heterogeneity in N2-fixing cyanobacteria. Another key interest of our group is how environmental factors such as light and nutrient availability regulate photosynthetic processes and photoprotective mechanisms at the population level.

Biosynthesis and function of photosynthetic pigments - Roman Sobotka

The subject of our research is the chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway, which is rather complicated and partially overlap with the pathways for synthesis of other important cofactors like heme and phycobilins. We aim to elucidate mechanisms of regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis and to identify pathways by which the chlorophyll is built into membrane pigment-protein complexes and removed from them during their degradation.

Dynamics and heterogeneity of photosynthetic membranes - Radek Kaňa

We study mobility and photoprotection of photosynthetic proteins and heterogeneity of thylakoid membranes. We use single-cell microscopic methods (FRAP, FCS) to resolve process of proteins diffusion and reorganization in thylakoid membranes. We also study mechanism of photosynthetic energy conversion in light-harvesting antennae, how it is optimized by non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) or during state transitions. Further we operate high-sensitivity/high-speed confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (LSM Zeiss 880) with standard features for cell biology and provide this service to other groups and laboratories.

Algal evolution and ecology - Jan Janouškovec

We are interested in how different groups of algae gained or lost photosynthesis, how endosymbiosis works, and what evolutionary innovations drive algal success in natural environments. Our work involves single-celled and multicellular algae, but also cyanobacteria and algae-derived parasites. We use genomics, microscopy and molecular cell biology with the general aim to understand their diversity, evolution and significance to humans.