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Professor Julian Eaton-Rye

Contact Details

Phone
64 3 479 7865
Email
julian.eaton-rye@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Professor
Department
Department of Biochemistry
Qualifications
BSc(Manc) PhD(Ill)
Research summary
Photosynthesis

Research

Life on our planet is driven by Photosystem II that captures sunlight and extracts electrons from H2O to reduce CO2 into sugars while releasing the O2 we breathe. My laboratory concentrates on structure-function studies of Photosystem II in plants and cyanobacteria. Currently we are working on protein-protein interactions that facilitate sustained water-splitting activity by Photosystem II in response to changing environmental conditions such as fluctuating light levels, temperature and pH. We are also interested in protein factors that are required for the assembly of Photosystem II. Since the sun provides more energy in 1 hour than our entire global energy consumption in 1 year, we are also working on metabolic engineering to couple the harvesting of light by photosynthetic protein complexes to the efficient production of biofuels in cyanobacteria.

Media appearances

Publications

Forsman, J. A., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2021). The hydrophobicity of mutations targeting D1:Val219 modifies formate and diuron binding in the quinone-Fe-acceptor complex of Photosystem II. Physiologia Plantarum, 172, 2217-2225. doi: 10.1111/ppl.13469

Forsman, J. A., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2021). The interaction between PsbT and the DE loop of D1 in Photosystem II stabilizes the quinone-iron electron acceptor complex. Biochemistry, 60(1), 53-63. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00668

Khaing, E. P., Zhong, V., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2020). An updated system for the targeted mutagenesis of the psbDI:psbC operon in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: Mutations targeting Asp460 in CP43 of Photosystem II reduce oxygen-evolving activity and perturb electron transfer in the quinone-Fe-acceptor complex. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 58(4), 389-405. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2020.1771383

Sheridan, K. J., Duncan, E. J., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Summerfield, T. C. (2020). The diversity and distribution of D1 proteins in cyanobacteria. Photosynthesis Research, 145(2), 111-128. doi: 10.1007/s11120-020-00762-7

Fagerlund, R. D., Forsman, J. A., Biswas, S., Vass, I., Davies, F. K., Summerfield, T. C., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2020). Stabilization of Photosystem II by the PsbT protein impacts photodamage, repair and biogenesis. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Bioenergetics, 1861, 148234. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2020.148234

Forsman, J. A., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2021). The hydrophobicity of mutations targeting D1:Val219 modifies formate and diuron binding in the quinone-Fe-acceptor complex of Photosystem II. Physiologia Plantarum, 172, 2217-2225. doi: 10.1111/ppl.13469

Journal - Research Article

Forsman, J. A., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2021). The interaction between PsbT and the DE loop of D1 in Photosystem II stabilizes the quinone-iron electron acceptor complex. Biochemistry, 60(1), 53-63. doi: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00668

Journal - Research Article

Khaing, E. P., Zhong, V., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2020). An updated system for the targeted mutagenesis of the psbDI:psbC operon in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: Mutations targeting Asp460 in CP43 of Photosystem II reduce oxygen-evolving activity and perturb electron transfer in the quinone-Fe-acceptor complex. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 58(4), 389-405. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2020.1771383

Journal - Research Article

Sheridan, K. J., Duncan, E. J., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Summerfield, T. C. (2020). The diversity and distribution of D1 proteins in cyanobacteria. Photosynthesis Research, 145(2), 111-128. doi: 10.1007/s11120-020-00762-7

Journal - Research Article

Fagerlund, R. D., Forsman, J. A., Biswas, S., Vass, I., Davies, F. K., Summerfield, T. C., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2020). Stabilization of Photosystem II by the PsbT protein impacts photodamage, repair and biogenesis. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Bioenergetics, 1861, 148234. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2020.148234

Journal - Research Article

Forsman, J. A., Fagerlund, R. D., Biswas, S., Summerfield, T. C., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2020). The PsbT protein modifies the bicarbonate-binding environment of Photosystem II. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 58(4), 406-421. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2020.1772320

Journal - Research Article

Forsman, J. A., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2020). The D1:Ser268 residue of Photosystem II contributes to an alternative pathway for QB protonation in the absence of bound bicarbonate. FEBS Letters, 594(18), 2953-2964. doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.13880

Journal - Research Article

Forsman, J. A., Vass, I., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2019). D1:Glu244 and D1:Tyr246 of the bicarbonate-binding environment of Photosystem II moderate high light susceptibility and electron transfer through the quinone-Fe-acceptor complex. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Bioenergetics, 1860, 148054. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.07.009

Journal - Research Article

Forsman, J. A., Winter, R. T., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2019). An improved system for the targeted mutagenesis of the psbA2 gene in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: Mutation of D1-Glu244 to His impairs electron transfer between QA and QB of Photosystem II. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 59(2), 125-136. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2019.1617321

Journal - Research Article

Murota, C., Fujiwara, S., Tsujishita, M., Urabe, K., Takayanagi, S., Aoki, M., … Eaton-Rye, J. J., … Tsuzuki, M. (2019). Hyper-resistance to arsenate in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is influenced by the differential kinetics of its pst-ABC transporters and external phosphate concentration exposure. Algal Research, 38, 101410. doi: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101410

Journal - Research Article

Morris, J. N., Kovács, S., Vass, I., Summerfield, T. C., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2019). Environmental pH and Glu364 to Gln mutation in the chlorophyll-binding CP47 protein affect redox-active TyrD and charge recombination in Photosystem II. FEBS Letters, 593, 163-174. doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.13307

Journal - Research Article

Biswas, S., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2018). PsbY is required for prevention of photodamage to photosystem II in a PsbM-lacking mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Photosynthetica, 56(1), 200-209. doi: 10.1007/s11099-018-0788-6

Journal - Research Article

Morris, J. N., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Summerfield, T. C. (2017). Phenotypic variation in wild-type substrains of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 55(1), 25-35. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2016.1231124

Journal - Research Article

Jackson, S. A., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2017). Modular growth vessels for the cultivation of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 55(1), 14-24. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2016.1231123

Journal - Research Article

Crawford, T. S., Hanning, K. R., Chua, J. P. S., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Summerfield, T. C. (2016). Comparison of D1´- and D1-containing PS II reaction centre complexes under different environmental conditions in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Plant, Cell & Environment, 39, 1715-1726. doi: 10.1111/pce.12738

Journal - Research Article

Crawford, T. S., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Summerfield, T. C. (2016). Mutation of Gly195 of the ChlH subunit of Mg-chelatase reduces chlorophyll and further disrupts PS II assembly in a Ycf48-deficient strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 1060. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01060

Journal - Research Article

Najafpour, M. M., Renger, G., Holyńska, M., Moghaddam, A. N., Aro, E.-M., Carpentier, R., … Eaton-Rye, J. J., … Allakhverdiev, S. I. (2016). Manganese compounds as water-oxidizing catalysts: From the natural water-oxidizing complex to nanosized manganese oxide structures. Chemical Reviews, 116(5), 2886-2936. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.5b00340

Journal - Research Article

Morris, J. N., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Summerfield, T. C. (2016). Environmental pH and the requirement for the extrinsic proteins of Photosystem II in the function of cyanobacterial photosynthesis. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7, 1135. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2016.01135

Journal - Research Article

Jackson, S. A., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2015). Characterization of a Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 double mutant lacking the CyanoP and Ycf48 proteins of Photosystem II. Photosynthesis Research, 124, 217-229. doi: 10.1007/s11120-015-0122-0

Journal - Research Article

Nath, K., Najafpour, M. M., Voloshin, R. A., Balaghi, S. E., Tyystjärvi, E., Timilsina, R., Eaton-Rye, J. J., … Allakhverdiev, S. I. (2015). Photobiological hydrogen production and artificial photosynthesis for clean energy: From bio to nanotechnologies. Photosynthesis Research, 126(2-3), 237-247. doi: 10.1007/s11120-015-0139-4

Journal - Research Article

Najafpour, M. M., Fekete, M., Sedigh, D. J., Aro, E.-M., Carpentier, R., Eaton-Rye, J. J., … Spiccia, L. (2015). Damage management in water-oxidizing catalysts: From photosystem II to nanosized metal oxides. ACS Catalysis, 5(3), 1499-1512. doi: 10.1021/cs5015157

Journal - Research Article

Jackson, S. A., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Bryant, D. A., Posewitz, M. C., & Davies, F. K. (2015). Dynamics of photosynthesis in the glycogen-deficient glgC mutant of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Applied & Environmental Microbiology, 81(18), 6210-6222. doi: 10.1128/aem.01751-15

Journal - Research Article

Lamb, J. J., Hill, R. E., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Hohmann-Marriott, M. F. (2014). Functional role of PilA in iron acquisition in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. PLoS ONE, 9(8), e105761. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105761

Journal - Research Article

Mabbitt, P. D., Wilbanks, S. M., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2014). Duplication and divergence of the Psb27 subunit of Photosystem II in the green algal lineage. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 52(1), 74-83. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2013.859629

Journal - Research Article

Jackson, S. A., Hervey, J. R. D., Dale, A. J., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2014). Removal of both Ycf48 and Psb27 in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 disrupts Photosystem II assembly and alters QĀ oxidation in the mature complex. FEBS Letters, 588(20), 3751-3760. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.08.024

Journal - Research Article

Mabbitt, P. D., Wilbanks, S. M., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2014). Structure and function of the hydrophilic Photosystem II assembly proteins: Psb27, Psb28 and Ycf48. Plant Physiology & Biochemistry, 81, 96-107. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2014.02.013

Journal - Research Article

Luo, H., Jackson, S. A., Fagerlund, R. D., Summerfield, T. C., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2014). The importance of the hydrophilic region of PsbL for the plastoquinone electron acceptor complex of Photosystem II. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Bioenergetics, 1837(9), 1435-1446. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2014.02.015

Journal - Research Article

Najafpour, M. M., Ghobadi, M. Z., Haghighi, B., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Tomo, T., Shen, J.-R., & Allakhverdiev, S. I. (2014). Nano-sized manganese-calcium cluster in photosystem II. Biochemistry (Moscow), 79(4), 324-336. doi: 10.1134/S0006297914040026

Journal - Research Article

Najafpour, M. M., Isaloo, M. A., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Tomo, T., Nishihara, H., Satoh, K., … Allakhverdiev, S. I. (2014). Water exchange rate in manganese-based water-oxidizing catalysts in photosynthetic systems: From the water-oxidizing complex in photosystem II to nano-sized manganese oxides. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Bioenergetics, 1837(9), 1395-1410. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2014.03.008

Journal - Research Article

Morris, J. N., Crawford, T. S., Jeffs, A., Stockwell, P. A., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Summerfield, T. C. (2014). Whole genome re-sequencing of two ‘wild-type’ strains of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 52(1), 36-47. doi: 10.1080/0028825X.2013.846267

Journal - Research Article

Najafpour, M. M., Rahimi, F., Sedigh, D. J., Carpentier, R., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Shen, J.-R., & Allakhverdiev, S. I. (2013). Gold or silver deposited on layered manganese oxide: A functional model for the water-oxidizing complex in photosystem II. Photosynthesis Research, 117(1-3), 423-429. doi: 10.1007/s11120-013-9899-x

Journal - Research Article

Najafpour, M. M., Tabrizi, M. A., Haghighi, B., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Carpentier, R., & Allakhverdiev, S. I. (2013). Imidazolium or guanidinium/layered manganese (III, IV) oxide hybrid as a promising structural model for the water-oxidizing complex of Photosystem II for artificial photosynthetic systems. Photosynthesis Research, 117, 413-421. doi: 10.1007/s11120-013-9814-5

Journal - Research Article

Mabbitt, P. D., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Wilbanks, S. M. (2013). Mutational analysis of the stability of Psb27 from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: Implications for models of Psb27 structure and binding to CP43. European Biophysics Journal, 42, 787-793. doi: 10.1007/s00249-013-0926-9

Journal - Research Article

Burut-Archanai, S., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Incharoensakdi, A., & Powtongsook, S. (2013). Phosphorus removal in a closed recirculating aquaculture system using the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 strain lacking the SphU regulator of the Pho regulon. Biochemical Engineering Journal, 74, 69-75. doi: 10.1016/j.bej.2013.03.004

Journal - Research Article

Lamb, J. J., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Hohmann-Marriott, M. F. (2013). A cost-effective solution for the reliable determination of cell numbers of microorganisms in liquid culture. Current Microbiology, 67, 123-129. doi: 10.1007/s00284-013-0340-7

Journal - Research Article

Summerfield, T. C., Crawford, T. S., Young, R. D., Chua, J. P. S., Macdonald, R. L., Sherman, L. A., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2013). Environmental pH affects photoautotrophic growth of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 strains carrying mutations in the lumenal proteins of PSII. Plant & Cell Physiology, 54(6), 859-874. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pct036

Journal - Research Article

Shevela, D., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Shen, J.-R., & Govindjee (2012). Photosystem II and the unique role of bicarbonate: A historical perspective. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Bioenergetics, 1817(8), 1134-1151. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2012.04.003

Journal - Research Article

Jackson, S. A., Hinds, M. G., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2012). Solution structure of CyanoP from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: New insights on the structural basis for functional specialization amongst PsbP family proteins. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Bioenergetics, 1817(8), 1331-1338. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2012.02.032

Journal - Research Article

Najafpour, M. M., Moghaddam, A. N., Yang, Y. N., Aro, E.-M., Carpentier, R., Eaton-Rye, J. J., … Allakhverdiev, S. I. (2012). Biological water-oxidizing complex: A nano-sized manganese-calcium oxide in a protein environment. Photosynthesis Research, 114(1), 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s11120-012-9778-x

Journal - Research Article

Lamb, J. J., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Hohmann-Marriott, M. F. (2012). An LED-based fluorometer for chlorophyll quantification in the laboratory and in the field. Photosynthesis Research, 114(1), 59-68. doi: 10.1007/s11120-012-9777-y

Journal - Research Article

Bricker, T. M., Roose, J. L., Fagerlund, R. D., Frankel, L. K., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2012). The extrinsic proteins of Photosystem II. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta: Bioenergetics, 1817(1), 121-142. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2011.07.006

Journal - Research Article

Vos, M. H., Bouzhir-Sima, L., Lambry, J.-C., Luo, H., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Ioanoviciu, A., … Liebl, U. (2012). Ultrafast ligand dynamics in the heme-based GAF sensor domains of the histidine kinases DosS and DosT from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Biochemistry, 51(1), 159-166. doi: 10.1021/bi201467c

Journal - Research Article

Burut-Archanai, S., Eaton-Rye, J. J., & Incharoensakdi, A. (2011). Na+-stimulated phosphate uptake system in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 with Pst1 as a main transporter. BMC Microbiology, 11, 225. doi: 10.1186/1471-2180-11-225

Journal - Research Article

Nagarajan, A., Winter, R., Eaton-Rye, J., & Burnap, R. (2011). A synthetic DNA and fusion PCR approach to the ectopic expression of high levels of the D1 protein of photosystem II in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology B, 104(1-2), 212-219. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2011.02.009

Journal - Research Article

Ehimen, E. A., Sun, Z. F., Carrington, C. G., Birch, E. J., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2011). Anaerobic digestion of microalgae residues resulting from the biodiesel production process. Applied Energy, 88(10), 3454-3463. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.10.020

Journal - Research Article

Fagerlund, R. D., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2011). The lipoproteins of cyanobacterial photosystem II. Journal of Photochemistry & Photobiology B, 104(1-2), 191-203. doi: 10.1016/j.jphotobiol.2011.01.022

Journal - Research Article

Hohmann-Marriott, M. F., Takizawa, K., Eaton-Rye, J. J., Mets, L., & Minagawa, J. (2010). The redox state of the plastoquinone pool directly modulates minimum chlorophyll fluorescence yield in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. FEBS Letters, 584, 1021-1026. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2010.01.052

Journal - Research Article

Jackson, S. A., Fagerlund, R. D., Wilbanks, S. M., & Eaton-Rye, J. J. (2010). Crystal structure of PsbQ from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 at 1.8 Å: Implications for binding and function in cyanobacterial photosystem II. Biochemistry, 49(13), 2765-2767. doi: 10.1021/bi100217h

Journal - Research Article

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