Photosynthesis is the process by which plants and algae use sun light energy to transform CO2 into biomass. Because photosynthesis uses a highly abundant energy source (sunlight) and consumes CO2, it holds great potential for becoming the center of the future bioeconomy. However, its efficiency in transforming light energy to biomass is quite low (2-5%) and diminishes when acclimating to environmental fluctuations. Which hampers our ability to use it for biomanufacturing biofuels, pharmaceuticals or bioplastics. Our group explores the mechanisms by which photosynthesis acclimates to environmental changes like light availability, CO2 concentration, or temperature and pinpoints what mechanisms are generating inefficiencies during photosynthesis.
To this end, we use the model green microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, eventually expanding our acquired knowledge on other algae and crop plants.
Our questions and goals: How are microalgae dynamically reacting to environmental fluctuations? How do molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis dynamically interact to optimise cell survival and growth under fluctuating conditions? What genes are important for acclimation to such fluctuations? Are these mechanisms equally efficient for allowing CO2 fixation? Can we modify key enzymes to make photosynthesis more efficient in some environments?
Press release here
press release: https://bse.carnegiescience.edu/carnegies-adrien-burlacot-selected-forbes-under-30-list-0
media coverage: La Montagne, News Auvergne, La Jaune et la Rouge
Link to the video (in French)
Press release here
Our location:
Burlacot Lab
Carnegie Institution for Science
Department of Plant Biology
260 Panama street,
Stanford, CA 94305