Photosynthetic cyanobacteria are increasingly being used as solar-powered green cell factories for the sustainable production of biofuels and valuable chemicals. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of photosynthesis is crucial for directing photosynthetic energy towards desired reactions. The electron transport reactions of photosynthesis generate a membrane potential over the thylakoid membrane, the proton motive force, which serves as the driving force for ATP synthesis and regulates protective mechanisms of the photosynthetic machinery. Therefore, the regulation of proton motive force is vital and is achieved by adjusting the proton conductivity of the ATP synthase, as well as by various ion channels and exchangers in the thylakoid membrane. My goal is to investigate these mechanisms in cyanobacteria and find ways to utilize this new knowledge to optimize the productivity of photosynthetic cell factories.

I am the principal investigator (PI) in a project funded by the Academy of Finland titled "Channelling photosynthesis: elucidating regulation of membrane potential in cyanobacteria" (2024-2027).