Chloro-phylling in the Answers to Big Questions

A photo of the XFEL equipment during laser alignment. The three metal-covered fibers (the chainmail-like tubes in top right corner) illuminate the protein samples and cycle them through part of the photosynthetic reaction. The green point in the center is the interaction point where the XFEL will hit the samples. (Credit: Hiroki Makita/Berkeley Lab) - A Q&A with researchers who are focused on revealing the fine details of photosynthesis B erkeley Lab scientists specialize in investigating fundamental scientific questions that, when answered, could lead to world-changing advances in technology, medicine, or energy. One of these big questions is how, exactly, photosynthesis occurs. The enzyme-based process of converting carbon dioxide into food, using water and sunlight, is literally the foundation of life on Earth - and understanding the reaction at an atomic level could lead to vast production of renewable fuels made from greenhouse gases sucked out of the air. Pretty world changing, indeed. A team from Berkeley Lab's Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging (MBIB) Division has been uncovering precise, step-by-step details of photosynthesis for years. They have just revealed another aspect, which was published earlier this month. Their current work focuses on photosystem II (PS II), the enzyme that splits water into oxygen gas, hydrogen ions, and the free electrons that power the rest of the process, ultimately creating sugar molecules. We spoke to two members, co-lead author and senior scientist Vittal Yachandra and co-first author and postdoctoral researcher Philipp Simon, about their latest milestones, shooting stuff with lasers, and why they chose this field. Q. What did you discover in your latest paper?