Department/Institute: LMU Faculty of Biology, Plant Molecular Biology

Subject areas/Research fields: Genetics, cell biology, physiology, evolutionary biology, microbiology

Keywords: photosynthesis, genetic screen, protein biochemistry, synthetic biology, adaptive laboratory evolution

Name of supervisor: Dario Leister

Project title: Regulation and enhancement of photosynthesis

Project description:

Our aim is to understand the regulation and complexity of photosynthesis. One line of research focuses on identifying the components, mechanisms, and regulation of cyclic electron flow in the flowering plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This includes genetic (suppressor) screens and mutant characterization, as well as protein-level characterization. Another line of research aims to enhance photosynthesis through synthetic biology and adaptive laboratory evolution in cyanobacteria, green algae, and simple model plants. Depending on the applicants’ backgrounds, qualifications, and interests, the source of funding and definition of specific PhD projects in these two main research directions are flexible.

References:

Penzler JF, Naranjo B, Walz S, Marino G, Kleine T, Leister D (2024) A pgr5 suppressor screen uncovers two distinct suppression mechanisms and links cytochrome b6f complex stability to PGR5. Plant Cell. koae098. doi: 10.1093/plcell/koae098

Leister D (2023) Enhancing the light reactions of photosynthesis: Strategies, controversies, and perspectives. Mol Plant 16: 4-22.

Hitchcock A, Hunter CN, Sobotka R, Komenda J, Dann M, Leister D (2022) Redesigning the photosynthetic light reactions to enhance photosynthesis - the PhotoRedesign consortium. Plant J. 109: 23-34. doi: 10.1111/tpj.15552.

Dann M, Ortiz EM, Thomas M, Guljamow A, Lehmann M, Schaefer H, Leister D (2021) Enhancing photosynthesis at high light levels by adaptive laboratory evolution. Nat Plants 7: 681-695. doi: 10.1038/s41477-021-00904-2.

For further information, please contact:

Dario Leister, leister@lmu.de

Research group website:

www.plantmolecularbiology.bio.lmu.de

Apply: Please send your application through the online portal of the Graduate School Life Science Munich (LSM)