Structure of the Biliverdin Radical Intermediate in PcyA Identified by HFEPR

1. Light Harvesting in CyanobacteriaGregory S. Boebinger, Florida State University, DMR 0654118High-Field Electron Magnetic Resonance User Program Structure of the Biliverdin Radical Intermediate in PcyA Identified by HFEPR S. Stoll, A. Gunn, M. Brynda, W. Sughrue, A. C. Kohler, A. Ozarowski,* A. J. Fisher, J. C. Lagarias, R. D. Britt (PI), Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis; *NHMFL. • Photosynthesis in cyanobacteria is more efficient than in plants • Involves electron & proton transfer via radical intermediates • Mechanism poorly understood: nature of freeze-quenched radical intermediates can be determined by high-field electron magnetic resonance • Only very high frequency (f > 400 GHz) EPR provides necessary g resolution • Information not accessible via x-ray techniques Funded by NIH (GM073789, GM068552) S. Stoll et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2009, 131(5), 1986-1995.

2. Electron Magnetic Resonance: Interdisciplinary EducationGregory S. Boebinger, Florida State University, DMR 0654118 High-Field Electron Magnetic Resonance User Program The EMR group held a week-long summer school on theoretical and practical aspects of pulsed EPR. The school was attended by 20 graduate students and postdocs from the physics, chemistry, and biology departments both at Florida State University (FSU) and the University of Florida (UF). A series of formal lectures by faculty members from both UF and FSU took place each morning, followed by hands-on training in the afternoons on both commercial and home-built spectrometers. Based on the success of this first workshop, the EMR group plans to hold similar events in coming years that will be open to members of the EMR community in the United States and overseas.