Wim F.J. Vermaas
Professor: Department of Plant Biology
Came to Arizona State University in 1986 after having worked on various aspects of photosynthesis at the Agricultural University in Wageningen (The Netherlands), the University of Illinois, Michigan State University, the Technical University (Berlin, Germany) and at the Du Pont Experimental Station. The research in his laboratory focuses on the molecular genetics of photosynthesis-related proteins.
One approach used in our group to investigate how the structure of proteins relates to the strict requirements of photosynthesis function is the introduction of site-specific mutations at targeted sites of a gene coding for a protein associated with photosystem II, the pigment/protein complex catalyzing initial steps in the photosynthesis process. The mutated gene is subsequently introduced into a transformable cyanobacterium, Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, which incorporates this DNA into its genome. The photosynthetic apparatus of cyanobacteria strongly resembles that of plants, and results obtained with the cyanobacteria are directly extrapolatable to higher plant photosynthesis. Site-specific Synechocystis mutants are analyzed functionally and structurally, such analysis involves biochemical, biophysical, and molecular-biological aspects, including fluorescence spectroscopy, gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, electron transport measurements, electron paramagnetic resonance, protein pulse-chase experiments, and DNA an RNA characterization. From the results of these studies we can determine the function of specific amino acid residues in protein involved in photosynthesis.
We also are studying the photosynthetic reaction center complex in an evolutionary ancient bacterium, Heliobacillus mobilis. Photosynthetic reactions in this organism have interesting functional parallels with those in plants and cyanobacteria, but the primary structure of reaction center proteins is quite different form that in plants. Our work on Heliobacillus primarily focuses on sequence determinations, comparisons with the functionally homologous proteins in higher plants, and on development of procedures to genetically modify this anomalous photosynthetic bacterium.
Course Information: Fall, 1998, BIO 343 / PLB 352 -- Genetic Engineering and Society (an on-line syllabus and more)
Tel: 1-(480) 965-3698
Fax: 1-(480) 965-6899
Email: Wim@asu.edu
Office Room Number: LS E-549
Lab Room Numbers: LS E-504/550
Tuesday, April 6, 1999
