Modeling bioenergetics of Halobacterium salinarum

Halobacterium salinarum is an archeal organism that can be found in environments with high concentrations of salt (e.g., salt lakes, evaporating ponds of seawater). Mass colonies are recognized by their typical purple color which is due to the presence of the retinal protein bacteriorhodopsin in the membrane. This protein functions as a light-driven proton pump and allows H. salinarum to grow with light as the only energy source. The protein has become a paradigm for membrane proteins in general, and transporters in particular.

Bacteriorhodopsin converts light energy into a proton gradient, and this gradient is utilized by ATP synthase for generation of ATP. However, the pumping of protons is also accompanied by the movement of several other ions across the membrane. The aim of this modeling project is to gain a more thorough understanding of how the interactions of the various ions and their transporters contribute to the overall observed dynamics of the system, such as changes in pH, accumulation of potassium and ATP.

The project is a collaboration with the lab of Professor Dieter Oesterhelt at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Munich, Germany.


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