Cooperation between different parts of the cell is essential for photosynthetic metabolism.
The energy derived from the light reaction is used to fix CO2 and to drive subsequent metabolic conversions including uptake and assimilation of nitrogen and other nutrients. Several groups within UPSC are working in this area on projects ranging from uptake of CO2 to the utilisation of end products for growth, storage and energy metabolism. The biosynthesis of carbohydrates (starch for storage and sucrose for export) including the partitioning between these end products is studied. We also examine the interactions between respiration / photorespiration and photosynthesis both in relation to bioenergetics and regulation of metabolism. Nitrogen fixation and hydrogen metabolism is studied as well as transport processes both within the cell and for sucrose export to non-photosynthetic parts of the plant. An important aspect in all projects on metabolism is the regulation of the respective pathways. This is studied both with respect to sensing environmental change, the signals responsible for the modification of gene expression and fine tuning of enzyme activities.
Per Gardeström Regulation of plant metabolism
Vaughan Hurry Metabolic acclimation to sub-optimal environments
Leszek Kleczkowski Control of carbohydrate formation
Göran Samuelsson The Carbon Concentrating Mechanism(CCM) in green algae
Anita Sellstedt Biodiversity of hydrogenases and sustainable nitrogen fixation
