Proteomic, Metabolic and Fluxomic Characterization of Photosynthesis in the Cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Nathaphon Joel Yu King Hing, Purdue University

Abstract

The Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle is a central and critical metabolic process, fixing inorganic CO2 into larger organic molecules. Metabolic engineering of photosynthetic organisms can potentially provide useful end products, such as biofuels, without increasing atmospheric CO2. Analysis of the CBB cycle under various steady states illuminates which mechanisms are most important in controlling the activity and the overall metabolic flux distributions of the CBB cycle. In this work, a combination of fluxomics, metabolomics and proteomics is used to characterize photosynthesis to obtain a more complete understanding of the CBB cycle in the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 under varying CO2 and light conditions. Isotopically nonstationary metabolic flux analysis (INST-MFA) was utilized to characterize differences in fluxes and metabolic concentrations under four different conditions. In parallel, shotgun proteomics was used to quantify approximate fold-changes in protein abundances under different environmental conditions. Results suggest that the oxidative pentose pathway activity and the production of reactive oxygen species are related to light levels and CO2 concentrations. Additionally, multiple enzymes are identified as possible photosynthetic bottlenecks.

Degree

M.S.Ch.E.

Advisors

Morgan, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Biochemistry|Chemical engineering

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