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Lecturer(s)
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Prášil Ondřej, prof. RNDr. Ph.D.
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Course content
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Content of lectures: Photosynthetic membranes and complexes. Reaction centers and light harvesting antennae. Geochemical importance and evolution of photosynthesis. Irradiance - absorption, energy transfer. Photosynthetic pigments. Thylakoid membrane ? composition, architecture. Lumen, stroma. Light harvesting complexes. Phycobilisomes - structura, pigments, energy transfer, biogenesis, regulation. Photochemical energy transfer. Redox reactions, equilibrium and kinetic constants. Photosynthetic unit. Action spectra, quantum yields, absorption cross-section. Reaction centers. Efficiency of photochemistry. Mechanismys of electron transfer. Primary donor. Charge separation and stabilization. Triplets. Tunelling. Bacterial RC and photosystem 2 (PS2). Acceptor side of PS2, quinones and herbicides. Donor side of PS2: oxygen evolution, mechanism and structure. Z-scheme, cyclic tranfer. Cytochromes, Q cycle. Membrane gradients. Elektrochemical properties of thylakoids. Phosphorylation. Protonation. Uncouplers and inhibitors. Mobile electron acceptors. Plastocyanin, ferredoxin. Mehler reaction. Regulation of electron transfer. Oxygen radicals. Carbon metabolism. Calvin-Benson cycle - regulation, fotorespiration. C3, beta-karboxylation, C4 and CAM. Physical chemistry of anorganic C compunds. Izotopes. Active transport of CO2. Molecular biology of photosynthesis. Photosynthesis in continual irradiance, P/I curve, saturation. Chlororespiration, modelling. Photoacclimation, nonphotochemical quenching. Stress and photosynthesis. Photoinhibition ? visual and UV-B. Artificial photosynthesis, Biomimetics Content of practices: Pigment analysis ? spectrometric and HPLC. Energy transfer among pigments studied by fluorescence spectroscopy. Occupancy of Qb pocket followed by thermoluminescence. Oxygen evolution mesured by electrodes, optodes and mass-spectrometry. Oxygen evolution followed by fast electrodes. Kinetics of variable fluorescence transients. Study of stress effects by following the quantum yields of photosynthesis. Isolation of thylakoid membranes. Separation and analysis of pigment-protein complexes by electrophoresis. Low-temperature spectroscopy of isolated chloroplasts by LD and CD spektroscopy. Gas exchange in plants
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Learning activities and teaching methods
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Monologic (reading, lecture, briefing)
- Class attendance
- 60 hours per semester
- Preparation for credit
- 15 hours per semester
- Preparation for exam
- 75 hours per semester
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Learning outcomes
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The course provides detailed information about the current understanding about photosynthesis. Besides theoretical description of photosynthetic processes and structure of photosynthetic apparatus the students will be introduced to experimental approaches used in this field of study. The most important experimental methods will be demonstrated in the practical course. The course is aimed for students that plan to study plants, algae or photosynthetic bacteria.
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Prerequisites
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Special course for Ph.D. study field Molecular and Cell Biology and Genetics.
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Assessment methods and criteria
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Oral examination
Credit for presentation of a selected topic extending the lecture. Exam requirements: obtaining at least 50% of the points in two tests or successfully answering at least 50% of the questions.
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Recommended literature
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Beer S., Bjork M., Beardall J. Photosynthesis in the Marine Environment. Wiley-Blackwell, 2014. ISBN 978-1-119-97957-9.
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Blankenship R.E. Molecular Mechanisms of Photosynthesis. Blackwell, 2002. ISBN 0-632-04321-0.
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Falkowski P.G., Raven J.A. Aquatic Photosynthesis, 2nd Edition. Princeton University Press, 2007. ISBN 9780691115511.
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