CoE in Integrative Photosynthesis and Bioactive Compound Research at Systems Biology Level
The CoE is interested in the regulation of photosynthetic reactions as well as in how these reactions are integrated into the production of primary and secondary metabolites and biohydrogen.
The CoE has two major areas of research focus: the usefulness of cyanobacteria (or blue-green algae) for biotechnology and environmental ecology, and the use of cyanobacteria and plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana as model organisms for photosynthesis research.
Research aims
The CoE’s main research aim is to provide a systems biology overview of photosynthetic organisms and how they react to the environment, extending from genome function through to the protein and metabolic level. Cyanobacterial genomes are relatively small, and therefore the task of detailed metabolic analysis is much simpler than in the case of plants.
Cyanobacteria can also have important applications: a key area of research is to study their diversity, the molecular mechanisms of toxin and bioactive compound production as well as the ecology of cyanobacteria in Finnish lakes and in the Baltic Sea.
Finnish and Chinese scientists have recently completed work to sequence the genome of the toxic Anabaena strain 90, which in Finland frequently forms mass occurrences. One of the CoE’s main interests is to analyse the genomes of Anabaena and the Baltic cyanobacteria Nodularia.
With respect to cyanobacteria, the programme’s biotechnological objective is to identify commercially viable compounds and molecules that can be used as medicinal substances.
Furthermore, the programme’s aim is to harness cyanobacteria for efficient biohydrogen production. Biohydrogen has important application as an energy source, on both a small and larger scale.
Cyanobacteria have a natural photosynthetic capacity to produce hydrogen out of water and sunlight. Hydrogen is infinite clean energy, because it is obtained from the conversion of solar energy.
The foundation for these biotechnology projects is provided by the extensive culture collection of cyanobacteria isolated from the natural environment in Finland.
CoE organisation
The CoE is headed by Professor Eva-Mari Aro from the University of Turku Department of Biology. Her main area of expertise is plant and cyanobacterial photosynthesis and the tolerance of environmental stressors.
The CoE’s research teams are from the University of Turku Department of Biology and the University of Helsinki Department of Applied Chemistry and Microbiology. The CoE has a staff of three professors and some 50 researchers, doctoral students and technical personnel.
Contact information
Academy Professor Eva-Mari Aro, University of Turku, Department of Biology, tel. +358 2 333 5931, firstname.lastname@utu.fi