R. L. Burnap

Elucidating the Role of Primary and Secondary Sphere Zn2+ Ligands in the Cyanobacterial CO2 Uptake Complex NDH-14: The Essentiality of Arginine in Zinc Coordination and Catalysis

This study investigates the role of specific amino acids in the cyanobacterial CO2 uptake complex NDH-14, focusing on their impact on Zn coordination and catalytic activity.

An amino residue that guides the correct photoassembly the water-oxidation complex but is not required for high affinity Mn2+ binding

This paper investigates the role of D1-E189 in PSII assembly, finding it is not required for Mn2+ binding but is critical for Ca2+ ligation and preventing mis-assembly of Mn.

Electron flow through NDH-1 complexes is the major driver of cyclic electron flow-dependent proton pumping in cyanobacteria

The paper demonstrates that NDH-1 complexes contribute significantly to proton pumping during cyclic electron flow in cyanobacteria, with CEF and NDH-1 generating ~40% of the proton pumping rate when LEF is inhibited.

The role of Ca2+ and protein scaffolding in the formation in nature's water oxidizing complex

This study investigates the role of Ca2+ and protein scaffolding in the photoactivation of the Mn4CaO5 metal cluster in photosystem II, showing their critical roles in stabilizing intermediates and preventing photoinactivation.

Light-driven formation of high-valent manganese oxide by photosystem II supports evolutionary role in early bioenergetics

The paper shows modern photosystem II can form birnessite-type Mn oxides, suggesting an evolutionary link between ancient Mn oxide production and current water oxidation mechanisms.