photosynthesis; biophysics; ecophysiology; photosynthetic acclimation; global climate change

Photosynthesis is process connecting light energy absorption by pigment-protein complexes, its photochemical conversion in reaction centres of photosystems II and I, ATP and NADPH formation, CO2 assimilation and transport of photosynthates. These reactions are performed by complex systems located in thylakoid membranes and stroma of chloroplasts. Biophysics, together with biochemistry and molecular biology, stands in centre of current research on structure, composition and function of photosyntetic apparatus. Biophysical approach to photosynthesis research includes both experimental techniques and structure-function mechanisms of individual reactions. Among the experimental techniques the methods of optical spectroscopy in UV-VIS region (particularly chlorophyll a fluorescence) provide valuable information on the utilization of light energy in photochemical reactions and are widely used in ecophysiologal applications.

Photosynthesis is process connecting light energy absorption by pigment-protein complexes, its photochemical conversion in reaction centres of photosystems II and I, ATP and NADPH formation, CO2 assimilation and transport of photosynthates. These reactions are performed by complex systems located in thylakoid membranes and stroma of chloroplasts. Biophysics, together with biochemistry and molecular biology, stands in centre of current research on structure, composition and function of photosyntetic apparatus. Biophysical approach to photosynthesis research includes both experimental techniques and structure-function mechanisms of individual reactions. Among the experimental techniques the methods of optical spectroscopy in UV-VIS region (particularly chlorophyll a fluorescence) provide valuable information on the utilization of light energy in photochemical reactions and are widely used in ecophysiologal applications.