Research Projects

This research aims to uncover photosynthetic machinery components responsible for high temperature/light tolerance in a robust green microalga. The study will sequence genomes, structurally characterize photosystems, evaluate responses to high light and temperature environments, and analyze lipid remodeling. The goal is to identify protective traits and mechanisms for drought and freezing resistance, enhancing crop resilience and productivity.

The study aims to complete a complete genome sequence for the organism Coelastrella sp. using Next-Generation Sequencing NGS technologies. The data will be used for genome assembly, automated gene annotation, and structural analysis of photosynthetic supercomplexes Photosystem I PSI and Photosystem II PSII. The researchers will compare the resulting sequence and gene annotations with publicly available genomic information to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the organism's adaptation to extreme environments. They will also focus on solving the structures of photosynthetic supercomplexes and lipid class analysis to understand the types of chloroplast lipids associated with these complexes. The study also aims to understand how environmental factors, such as increased temperature, affect the structure of PSI and PSII in the target species, transcriptome, and metabolome.