This course focuses on basics for photosynthesis and photochemistry and related physical, chemical and biological subjects. Specifically, environmental sensing mechanisms of photosynthetic organisms, such as plant and algae, will be studied. The course enables students to understand how photosynthesis was established and arranged during the course of evolution of the earth and life.
The topics will include energy conversion mechanisms by photosynthesis, evolution of photosynthesis and photosynthetic organisms, molecular structure of photosynthetic apparatus, structure of plant cells and photosynthetic membranes, and regulation of photosynthesis. Students will experience how photosynthesis is important on the life on the earth.
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) To explain how photosynthesis sustains life on the earth
2) To explain the molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis
3) To explain how photosynthesis is regulated depend on environmental changes
4) To explain how photosynthesis is established.
5) To comment on the current progresses in artificial photosynthesis
Photosynthesis, Photobiology, Spectroscopy, Biophysics, Electron transfer, Cell energetics, Protein complexes, Artificial photosynthesis
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | Critical thinking skills | Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
This course will be organized by three lecturers.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | What is photosynthesis. History of photosynthesis research (Hisabori) | Understanding of the historical aspects on photosynthesis research |
Class 2 | Structure of photosynthetic cells (Tanaka) | Understand cells structure for performing photosynthesis |
Class 3 | Photosynthetic light reaction 1 (Hisabori) | Understand function of photosynthetic apparatus |
Class 4 | Photosynthetic light reaction 2 (Hisabori) | Understand photosynthetic electron transfer |
Class 5 | photopigments used for photosynthesis (Masuda) | Understand what kind of pigments used for photosynthesis |
Class 6 | Properties of photopigments required for photosynthesis (Masuda) | Understand molecular properties of pigments used for photosynthesis |
Class 7 | Photosynthetic assimilatory reaction (Tanaka) | Understand mechanism of carbon fixation |
Class 8 | Photosynthetic assimilatory reaction 2 (Tanaka) | Understand mechanisms for nitrogen-related regulation |
Class 9 | Regulation of photosynthesis 1(Tanaka) | Understand regulatory system for controlling gene expression and chloroplast development |
Class 10 | Regulation of photosynthesis 2 (Hisabori) | Understand mechanisms of redox regulation of photosynthesis |
Class 11 | ATP synthesis | Understanding molecular mechanism of ATP synthesis |
Class 12 | Regulation of Photosynthesis 3 (Masuda) | Understand mechanisms of non-photochemical quenching and state transition |
Class 13 | Bacterial photosynthesis (Masuda) | Understand mechanisms of bacterial photosynthesis, and evolution of photosynthesis |
Class 14 | Artificial photosynthesis (Guest lecturer or Masuda) | Understand current progresses in artificial photosynthesis |
Class 15 | Co-evolution of earth, life and photosynthesis (Masuda) | Understand evolutional histroty of the earth, life and photosynthesis |
None
Kimiyuki Sato (ed): Photosynthesis. Asakura-Shoten; ISBN 4-254-17657-0 C 3345. (Japanese)
Phosynthesis Education Team, The University of Tokyo; ISBN978-4-13-062214-1. (Japanese)
Robert E. Blankenship:
Will be announced
None