Photosynthesis - molecular and structural basis 1400-222FMiSP
The lecture aims to:
-) explain the essence of photochemical processes and their relationship to the structural organization of photosynthetic complexes;
-) discuss the hierarchical organization of photosynthetic complexes and their spatial distribution within thylakoid membranes;
-) address the complexity of electron transport mechanisms;
-) present the spatial architecture of chloroplasts as well as the lipidome and proteome of these organelles in relation to photosynthesis-associated processes;
-) discuss plastid biogenesis and the formation of the thylakoid membrane network;
-) examine the dynamics of thylakoid membranes and the importance of this process in the regulation of photosynthesis;
-) elucidate the complexity of mechanisms regulating photosynthesis, from the control of electron transport in the photosynthetic chain to the regulation of gene expression;
-) outline research strategies in photosynthesis under conditions of climate awareness, including genetic modifications aimed at enhancing the efficiency of this process;
-) discuss the concept of artificial photosynthesis, i.e., research inspired by natural photochemical processes.
Type of course
Mode
Course coordinators
Learning outcomes
.Upon successful completion of the course, the student:
-) identifies and defines, using tools of chemistry and physics, the mechanisms of photosynthetic reactions at the molecular and cellular levels (K_W01);
-) understands the relationship between the structural organization of pigment–protein complexes and photochemical processes, as well as the principles of hierarchical organization in biological systems (K_W03);
-) understands the evolutionary determinants underlying the complexity of the photosynthetic apparatus and the principles of mechanisms regulating this biological process (K_W11);
-) reads and comprehends scientific and popular-science texts related to the topics covered in the lecture (K_U02);
-) is able to critically elaborate on a selected biological problem related to photosynthesis and its applications, and to present it in the form of a written report with proper documentation (K_U07).
-) expands their interest in the natural sciences to include topics related to photosynthesis, particularly issues associated with the climate crisis (K_K01);
-) communicates new achievements in the field of photosynthesis to the public and is able to convey this information in an accessible manner (K_K06).
Assessment criteria
To pass the course, students must attend at least 85% of the lectures and obtain a minimum of 55% of the points from the knowledge-check tests based on the lecture material.
Short tests (“exit quizzes”) are administered at the end of each lecture and include multiple-choice and/or open-ended questions. Each test is graded on a 0–10 point scale.
The final grade for the lecture course is the average of all obtained scores, calculated after removing two extreme values. The distribution of final grades will be adjusted to reflect the performance of the entire group (i.e., a Gaussian curve).
Practical placement
N/A
Bibliography
The topics discussed are based on the latest original and review articles.
For introductory reading, the following resources may be consulted:
"Strukturalne podstawy reakcji świetlnych fotosyntezy" M. Garstka, PBK, 2007 https://pbkom.eu/sites/default/files/artykulydo2012/34_3_445.pdf
"Napędzane światłem" - od fotosyntezy do fotoogniwa - K. Gieczewska, Kosmos, 2015 https://kosmos.ptpk.org/index.php/Kosmos/article/view/1538/1517
Additional information
Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system: