The SFB 1078 kindly invites you to the the following colloquium talk, hosted by Peter Hildebrandt:

Prof. Tilman Kottke (Biophysical Chemistry and Photochemistry, Universität Bielefeld)

Title: Time-resolved infrared spectroscopy illuminates cryptochrome and phytochrome mechanisms

Abstract: Cryptochromes and phytochromes are photoreceptors that regulate central responses of algae and plants to light and are successfully applied in optogenetics. Signal propagation from the primary photoreaction of the chromophore in the sensory domain to the effector is a process on multiple time scales, in which charge relocation plays an important role. Key responses of the protein moiety take place in the time range of nanoseconds to milliseconds. We have developed tailor-made strategies for each receptor to reveal changes in side chains and secondary structure by time-resolved infrared spectroscopy. In this talk I will give an overview on our recent insights gained on the mechanisms of two model proteins, cryptochrome from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and bacteriophytochrome from Deinococcus radiodurans.