Speaker: Prof. Aba Losi
Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences, University of Parma, Italy.

Title: Microbial photosensors for visible light: from biological functions to biophysical studies and applications

Abstract: The microbial world has literally received a new light during the last decades: novel photosensory receptors for visible light are continuously emerging, offering a plethora of novel and sometimes puzzling physiological functions, up to now verified in very few cases (1). Furthermore they are presenting researchers with novel tools and new challenges for biophysical applications. This lecture will focus on the fate of absorbed energy in natural and engineered systems, investigated in a time-resolved way (2,3). In particular, it will be illustrating the generation and spectroscopic characterization of a chimeric proteins built from two different soluble photosensing modules, designed for FRET (Foerster Resonance Energy Transfer) experiments. In addition, novel data obtained with a time-resolved photocalorimetric method, suited to describe early energetics and structural changes triggered by light in photosensors, will be presented for selected bacterial photoreceptors.