Sujith Puthiyaveetil
Title:
Associate Professor
PhD Granting Institution:
Queen Mary University of London
Contact:
Email Address: spveetil@purdue.edu
Office Phone: 765-494-8339
Lab Website Link: https://ag.purdue.edu/department/biochem/labs/puthiyaveetil-lab/
Primary Training Group:
Plant Biology
Secondary Training Groups:
Biomolecular Structure and Biophysics, Membrane Biology
Research Areas:
Regulation of chloroplast gene expression in plants and algae Structure, function, and biogenesis of thylakoid protein complexes
Current Projects:
1. Function and evolution of chloroplast two-component systems Chloroplasts originated from free-living cyanobacteria through endosymbiotic evolution and retain several bacterial features, including two-component signaling systems. Using Arabidopsis thaliana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum as model systems, our research explores chloroplast two-component systems in plants and algae, focusing on their signaling mechanisms, evolutionary trajectories, and physiological roles. A deeper understanding of these systems could enable the reengineering of photosynthesis to enhance efficiency and abiotic stress tolerance in crop plants and biofuel-producing algae. 2. Biogenesis and repair of photosystem II Photosystem II (PSII) uses sunlight to split water, driving oxygenic photosynthesis and thus supporting nearly all life on Earth. However, this remarkable water-splitting reaction also makes PSII highly susceptible to irreversible photooxidative damage. Our research investigates the role of post-translational modifications in the repair and maintenance of PSII. In plants, PSII is a massive supercomplex (~1.4 MDa) composed of a dimeric reaction center core and an extensive peripheral antenna system. We are particularly interested in understanding how this intricate complex — comprising a baroque mixture of polypeptides, pigments, and metal cofactors — is synthesized and assembled de novo.
Importance of Interdisciplinary Research:
The complexity of our research, which spans chloroplast signaling pathways and the biogenesis of photosynthetic protein complexes, necessitates an interdisciplinary approach. Our investigation of chloroplast two-component systems integrates evolutionary biology, genomics, molecular signaling, and algal and plant physiology. In parallel, our study of Photosystem II repair and assembly draws on structural biology, protein biochemistry, photobiology, and post-translational regulation. Bridging these diverse fields requires cross-disciplinary methods and perspectives to fully understand how chloroplasts function as dynamic and environmentally responsive organelles. This integrated view not only advances fundamental science but also supports applied efforts to engineer more efficient and stress resilient photosynthetic organisms for agriculture and bioenergy.