معرفی
Prof. Dr. Athina Zouni is a Professor at the Institute of Biology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, where she leads research in structural biology and biophysics of photosynthesis. She is affiliated with the Department of Biology and heads a research group focused on the structural and functional analysis of Photosystem II (PSII), a key complex in oxygenic photosynthesis.
Research Interests: Her work centers on high-resolution X-ray crystallography and femtosecond X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) diffraction to study membrane proteins, particularly PSII. She investigates the polypeptide and cofactor composition, quinone and lipid roles, substrate binding channels, chloride effects, and the water-oxidizing Mn4CaO5 cluster. Her research integrates biochemistry, structural biology, and biophysics to elucidate the mechanisms of photosynthetic water oxidation.
Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2012–2017) reflect a strong focus on advancing structural methods, especially serial femtosecond crystallography at room temperature using XFELs. These studies have enabled damage-free, time-resolved insights into the catalytic cycle of PSII, significantly contributing to understanding photosynthetic mechanisms.
Scientific Awards:
- No specific awards are mentioned in the provided text.
Advising and Grants: While specific students and grants are not listed, Prof. Zouni collaborates extensively with international teams from Berkeley, Menlo Park, Umeå, Stockholm, and Grenoble. She has led or co-led major publications in Nature, Science, and PNAS, indicating leadership in funded, high-impact research projects.
Labs and Teams: She is a core member of the UniCat research network and leads a research group at HU Berlin’s Institute of Biology. Her team works on protein crystallization, XFEL experiments, and spectroscopic analysis of photosynthetic complexes, contributing to both fundamental science and methodological innovation in structural biology.
