My research within the subject photosynthesis currently has developed into two different projects: 1. Investigating the potential of Nordic microalgae for wastewater reclamation and biomass generation and 2. Finding the function of plant proteases. Research objects in my group range from cyanobacteria, via green microalgae and cryptomonad algae to higher plants.
Wastewater reclamation and biomass generation by Nordic microalgae
With the expanding human population, we will need more food, more fuel and more water. At the same time, we have to reduce CO2 emissions by over 80%. One approach to address this problem is to recycle CO2 for fuel- or chemical-production using photosynthesis. Photosynthetic organisms use solar energy to incorporate atmospheric CO2 into organic molecules. We let microalgae perform photosynthesis and at the same time clean municipal and industrial wastewater. The algal biomass then can be used for biofuel, biogas, biofertilizer or even bioplastic. Our challenge is the sub-arctic climate we have in Northern Sweden with low temperatures and short-day lengths. Therefore, we investigate the potential of local, natural algal strains. We test their performance in cleaning wastewater, analyze their biomass and investigate, how to prolong their growth phase.
Plant proteases
Proteases are proteins that break down other proteins. They are involved in many different biological functions, e.g. the digestion of our food, cleaning the cell from malfunctioning proteins or cell signaling. Even though hundreds of proteases are encoded in the genomes of various plants, their biological roles are mostly unknown. Using molecular biological and biochemical methods, we try to find identify the function of some of them. Metacaspases, for example, are proteases thought to be involved in programmed cell death (PCD), the genetically encoded process leading to suicide of specific cells or tissues. In single-cell algae and cyanobacteria the necessity for PCD is less obvious, still these microorganisms contain metacaspases. The aim of our research is to investigate the broad network of PCD in photosynthetic single-cell organisms and at the same time to perform detailed functional, structural and evolutionary studies of the metacaspase homologues.
A) Various green microalgae found in municipal wastewater; B) Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the green microalga C. vulgaris 13-1 and its symbiotic bacterium Rhizobium sp. at 50 K magnification (Photos: Lorenza Ferro); C) Electron microscopy image of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. 6803 (Photo: Tania Tibiletti); D) Chlorophyll fluorescence emitted from Arabidopsis thaliana leaves (Photo: Laxmi Mishra)
Svensk sammanfattning
Key publications
- Martínez JM, Gojkovic Z, Ferro L, Maza M, Álvarez I, Raso J, Funk C. (2019) Use of Pulsed Electric Field permeabilization to extract astaxanthin from the Nordic microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. Bioresource Technology 289, 121694.
- Mishra, L.S., Mielke, K., Wagner, R., Funk, C. (2019) Reduced expression of the presumably proteolytic inactive FtsHi members has impact on the Darwinian Figness of Arabidopsis thaliana. J. Exp. Botany 70, 2173-2184.
- Karan, H.*, Funk, C.*, Grabert, M., Oey, M., Hankamer, B. (2019) Green bioplastics as part of a circular bioeconomy, Trends in Plant Science 24, 237-249.
- Ferro, L., Gorzsás, A., Gentili, F.G., Funk, C. (2018) North Swedish microalgal strains able to grow and treat wastewater at low temperature and short photoperiod, Algal Research 35, 160-167.
- Klemencic, M., Funk, C. (2018) Type III Metacaspases: calcium-dependent activity proposes new function for the p10 domain, New Phytologist 218, 1179-1191.
CV Dr. Christiane Funk
Education and academic degrees
- 2008 Professor in Biochemistry, Umeå University, Sweden.
- 2001 Docent. Biochemistry, Stockholm University, Sweden.
- 1995 PhD. Chemistry, Technical University Berlin, Germany
- 1991 MSc Georg-August University Göttingen, Germany
Employments
Current employment
- 2008- Professor in Biochemistry, Dept of Chemistry, Umeå University
Previous employments
- 2006 – 2011 Research fellow position of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA)
- 2002-2008 Associate Prof., Dept. of Biochemistry, Umeå University, Sweden
- 1998-2001 Assistant Prof., Arrhenius. Lab., Dept. of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Sweden
- 1997 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Research School of Biological Sciences, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
- 1995/1996 Postdoctoral Scientist, Dept. of Botany and Center for the Early Events in Photosynthesis, Tempe, Arizona, USA
Special Awards and Honours
- 2008 Young researcher award, Umeå University
- 2007-2011 Research fellow position of Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA)
- 1989-94 Scholar of the Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes
Publication list
-
Cryo-XPS analysis reveals surface composition of microalgae
Applied Surface Science 2020, 526, 146538
-
DNA metabarcoding reveals microbial community dynamics in a microalgae-based municipal wastewater treatment open photobioreactor
Algal Res. 2020, 51, 102043
-
Cryogenic X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy determines surface composition of algal cells and gives insights into their spontaneous sedimentation
Algal Res. 2020, 47, 101836
-
Screening Suitability of Northern Hemisphere Algal Strains for Heterotrophic Cultivation and Fatty Acid Methyl Ester Production
Molecules. 2020, 25(9):E2107
-
Classification and Nomenclature of Metacaspases and Paracaspases: No More Confusion with Caspases
Mol Cell. 2020, 77(5):927-929
-
Uptake Kinetics of Methylmercury in a Freshwater Alga Exposed to Methylmercury Complexes with Environmentally Relevant Thiols
Environmental Science & Technology 2019, 53 (23): 13757-13766
-
Growth performance and nutrient removal of a Chlorella vulgaris-Rhizobium sp. co-culture during mixotrophic feed-batch cultivation in synthetic wastewater
Algal Research 2019, 4: 101690
-
Statistical Methods for Rapid Quantification of Proteins, Lipids, and Carbohydrates in Nordic Microalgal Species Using ATR–FTIR Spectroscopy
Molecules 2019, 24(18): 3237
-
Use of pulsed electric field permeabilization to extract astaxanthin from the Nordic microalga Haematococcus pluvialis
Bioresour Technol. 2019, 289: 121694
-
DEG10 contributes to mitochondrial proteostasis, root growth, and seed yield in Arabidopsis
J Exp Bot. 2019, 70(19): 5423-5436
-
Extra-plastidial degradation of chlorophyll and photosystem I in tobacco leaves involving 'senescence-associated vacuoles'
Plant J. 2019, 99(3): 465-477
-
Functional expression of Gloeobacter rhodopsin in PSI-less Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Front Bioeng Biotechnol. 2019 7: 67
-
Evolution and structural diversity of metacaspases
J Exp Bot. 2019, 70(7): 2039-2047
-
Phylogenetic Distribution and Diversity of Bacterial Pseudo-Orthocaspases Underline Their Putative Role in Photosynthesis
Front Plant Sci. 2019, 10: 293
-
Reduced expression of the proteolytically inactive FtsH members has impacts on the Darwinian fitness of Arabidopsis thaliana
J Exp Bot 2019, 70(7): 2173-2184
-
Microalgae Cultivation for the Biotransformation of Birch Wood Hydrolysate and Dairy Effluent
Catalysts 2019, 9(2): 150
-
Elucidating the symbiotic interactions between a locally isolated microalga Chlorella vulgaris and its co-occurring bacterium Rhizobium sp. in synthetic municipal wastewater
J Appl Phycol 2019, 31(4): 2299-2310
-
Green Bioplastics as Part of a Circular Bioeconomy
Trends in Plant Science 2019, 24(3): 237-249
-
Northern green algae have the capacity to remove active pharmaceutical ingredients
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2019, 170:644-656
-
Combining retinal-based and chlorophyll-based (oxygenic) photosynthesis: Proteorhodopsin expression increases growth rate and fitness of a ∆PSI strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
Metab Eng. 2019, 52:68-76
-
Subarctic microalgal strains treat wastewater and produce biomass at low temperature and short photoperiod
Algal Research 2018, 35: 160-167
-
Isolation and characterization of microalgal strains for biomass production and wastewater reclamation in Northern Sweden
Algal Research 2018, 32: 44-53
-
Algal Biomass from Wastewater and Flue Gases as a Source of Bioenergy
Energies 2018, 11(3): 664
-
Stable accumulation of photosystem II requires ONE-HELIX PROTEIN1 (OHP1) of the light harvesting-like family
Plant Physiology 2018, 176 (3):2277-2291
-
The stress-induced SCP/HLIP family of small light-harvesting-like proteins (ScpABCDE) protects Photosystem II from photoinhibitory damages in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Photosynth Res. 2018, 135(1-3):103-114
-
Structural and functional diversity of caspase homologues in non-metazoan organisms
Protoplasma 2018, 255(1):387-397
-
Type III metacaspases: calcium-dependent activity proposes new function for the p10 domain
New Phytol. 2018, 218(3):1179-1191
-
Proteomic analysis of the phycobiliprotein antenna of the cryptophyte alga Guillardia theta cultured under different light intensities
Photosynth Res. 2018, 135(1-3):149-163
-
The HhoA protease from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 - novel insights into structure and activity regulation
J Struct Biol. 2017, 198(3):147-153
-
Antibiotic Disc Assay for Measuring Cell Wall Function in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
Bio-protocol 2016, 6(24): e2071
-
Deletion of FtsH11 protease has impact on chloroplast structure and function in Arabidopsis thaliana when grown under continuous light
Plant Cell Environ. 2016, 39(11):2530-2544
-
Lack of FTSH4 Protease Affects Protein Carbonylation, Mitochondrial Morphology, and Phospholipid Content in Mitochondria of Arabidopsis: New Insights into a Complex Interplay
Plant Physiol. 2016, 171(4):2516-35
-
The PsbY protein of Arabidopsis Photosystem II is important for the redox control of Cytochrome b559
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016 May 21. pii: S0005-2728(16)30536-9 [Epub ahead of print]
-
Insights into the Cyanobacterial Deg/HtrA Proteases
Front Plant Sci. 2016, 7: 694
-
Deletion of the gene family of small chlorophyll-binding proteins (ScpABCDE) offsets C/N homeostasis in Synechocystis PCC 6803
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2016, 1857(4):396-407
-
Regulation of the scp Genes in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803-What is New?
Molecules. 2015, 20(8):14621-37
-
Presence of state transitions in the cryptophyte alga Guillardia theta
J Exp Bot. 2015, 66(20): 6461-70
-
Inactivation of the Deg protease family in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has impact on the outer cell layers
J Photochem Photobiol B. 2015,152(Pt B): 383-94
-
Proteomic approaches to identify substrates of the three Deg/HtrA proteases of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Biochem J. 2015, 15;468(3):373-84
-
Synergy: A Web Resource for Exploring Gene Regulation in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803
PLoS One. 2014 Nov 24;9(11):e113496
-
Metabolomic analysis of extreme freezing tolerance in Siberian spruce (Picea obovata)
New Phytol. 2014, 204(3):545-555
-
Family-wide characterization of Matrix Metallo-proteinases from Arabidopsis thaliana reveals their distinct proteolytic activity and cleavage site specificity
Biochem J. 2013 Oct 25. [Epub ahead of print]
-
Storm P, Tibiletti T, Hall M, Funk C
Refolding and Enzyme Kinetic Studies on the Ferrochelatase of the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
PLoS ONE 2013 8(2):e55569
-
Miranda H, Cheregi O, Netotea S, Hvidsten TR, Moritz T, Funk C
Co-expression analysis, proteomic and metabolomic study on the impact of a Deg/HtrA protease triple mutant in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 exposed to temperature and high light stress
J. of Proteomics 2013, 78:94-311
-
Cheregi O, Vermaas W, Funk C
The search for new chlorophyll-binding proteins in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
J Biotechnol. 2012 Jul 1. [Epub ahead of print]
-
Roberts IN, Lam XT, Miranda H, Kieselbach T, Funk C
Degradation of PsbO by the Deg Protease HhoA Is Thioredoxin Dependent
PLoS One. 2012;7(9):e45713 Epub Sep 19
-
Roberts IN, Caputo C, Criado MV, Funk C
Senescence-associated proteases in plants
Physiol Plant. 2012 May;145(1):130-9
-
Wagner R, Aigner H, Funk C
FtsH proteases located in the plant chloroplast
Physiol Plant. 2012 May;145(1):203-14
-
Mishra Y, Johansson Jankanpaa H, Kiss AZ, Funk C, Schroder WP, Jansson S
Arabidopsis plants grown in the field and climate chambers significantly differ in leaf morphology and photosystem components
BMC Plant Biology 2012, 12:6
-
Matrix metalloproteinases in plants: A brief overview
Physiol Plant: 2012, 145(1):196-202
-
Crystal structure of the TL29 protein from Arabidopsis thaliana: An APX homolog without peroxidase activity
J Struct Biol.: 2011 176(1):24-31
-
Shi L, Hall M, Funk C, Schröder WP
Photosystem II, a growing complex: Updates on newly discovered components and low molecular mass proteins
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Bioenergetics: 1817 (2012), pp. 13-25
-
Ådén J, Wallgren M, Storm P, Weise CF, Christiansen A, Schröder WP, Funk C, Wolf-Watz M
Extraordinary μs–ms backbone dynamics in Arabidopsis thaliana peroxiredoxin Q
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta - Proteins & Proteomics: 1814, 1880-1890
-
Funk C, Alami M, Tibiletti T, Green BR
High light stress and the one-helix LHC-like proteins of the cryptophyte Guillardia theta
Biochim Biophys Acta.: 2011, 1807(7):841-6
-
Hernandez-Prieto MA, Tibiletti T, Abasova L, Kirilovsky D, Vass I, Funk C
The small CAB-like proteins of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: their involvement in chlorophyll biogenesis for Photosystem II
Biochim Biophys Acta.: 2011, 1807(9):1143-51
-
Wagner R, Aigner H, Pruzinska A, Jänkänpää HJ, Jansson S, Funk C
Fitness analyses of Arabidopsis thaliana mutants depleted of FtsH metalloproteases and characterization of three FtsH6 deletion mutants exposed to high light stress, senescence and chilling
The New Phytologist: 2011, 191:449-458
-
Huesgen PF, Miranda H, Lam X, Perthold M, Schuhmann H, Adamska I, Funk C
Recombinant Deg/HtrA proteases from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 differ in substrate specificity, biochemical characteristics and mechanism
Biochem J.: 2011, 435(3):733-42
-
Garcia-Cerdán JG, Kovács L, Tóth T, Kereiche S, Avseeva E, Boekema EJ, Mamedov F, Funk C, Schröder WP
The PsbW protein stabilizes the supramolecular organization of photosystem II in higher plants
The Plant Journal: 2011 65: 368-381
-
Granlund I, Storm P, Schubert M, Garcia-Cerdan JG, Funk C, Schröder WP
The TL29 protein is lumen located associated with Photosystem II and not an ascorbate peroxidase
Plant and Cell Physiology: 2009 50:1898-1910
-
Garcia-Cerdin JG, Sveshnikov D, Dewer D., Jansson S, Funk C, Schröder WP
Antisense inhibition of the PsbX protein affects PSII integrity in higher plant Arabidopsis thaliana
Plant and Cell Physiology: 2009 50(2):191-202
-
Storm P, Hernandez-Prieto MA, Eggink LL, Hoober JK, Funk C
The small CAB-like proteins of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 bind chlorophyll : In vitro pigment reconstitution studies on one-helix light-harvesting-like proteins
Photosynthesis Research: 2008 98(1-3):479-488
-
Sveshnikov D, Funk C, Schröder WP
The PsbP-like protein (sll1418) of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 stabilises the donor side of Photosystem II
Photosynthesis Research: 2008 93:101-109
-
Garcia-Lorenzo M, Zelisko A, Jackowski G, Funk C
Degradation of the main photosystem II light-harvesting complex
Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences:2005 4:1065-1071
-
Kufryk G, Hernandez-Prieto MA, Kieselbach T, Miranda H, Vermaas W, Funk C
Association of small CAB-like proteins (SCPs) of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 with Photosystem II
Photosynthesis Research: 2008 95:135-145
-
Garcia-Lorenzo M, Sjödin A, Jansson S, Funk C
Protease gene families in Populus and Arabidopsis
BMC Plant Biology 2006 6: 30, 24 pp.
-
Yao D, Kieselbach T, Komenda J, Promnares K, Prieto MAH, Tichy M, Vermaas W, Funk C
Localization of the Small CAB-like Proeins in Photosystem II
J Biol Chem 2007 282:267-276
-
Demmig-Adams B, Ebbert V, Mellman DL, Mueh KE, Schaffer L, Funk C, Zarter CR, Adamska I, Jansson S, Iii WWA
Modulation of PsbS and flexible vs sustained energy dissipation by light environment in different species
Physiologia Plantarum: 2006 127:670-680
-
Sveshnikov D, Ensminger I, Ivanov AG, Campbell D, Lloyd J, Funk C, Huner NPA, Oquist G
Excitation energy partitioning and quenching during cold acclimation in Scots pine
Tree Physiology: 2006 26:325-336
-
Moreau C, Aksenov N, Lorenzo MG, Segerman B, Funk C, Nilsson P, Jansson S, Tuominen H
A genomic approach to investigate developmental cell death in woody tissues of Populus trees
Genome Biology: 2005 6:R34
-
Ishikawa Y, Schroder WP, Funk C
Functional analysis of the PsbP-like protein (sll1418) in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Photosynth Res: 2005 84:257-262
-
Zelisko A, Garcia-Lorenzo M, Jackowski G, Jansson S, Funk C
AtFtsH6 is involved in the degradation of the light-harvesting complex II during high-light acclimation and senescence
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America: 2005 102:13699-13704-
-
Ensminger I, Sveshnikov D, Campbell DA, Funk C, Jansson S, Lloyd J, Shibistova O, Oquist G
Intermittent low temperatures constrain spring recovery of photosynthesis in boreal Scots pine forests
Global Change Biology: 2004 10:995-1008
-
Xu H, Vavilin D, Funk C, Vermaas W
Multiple deletions of small Cab-like proteins in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803: consequences for pigment biosynthesis and accumulation
J Biol Chem: 2004 279:27971-27979
-
Dedic R, Promnares K, Psencik J, Svoboda A, Korinek M, Tichy M, Komenda J, Funk C, Hala J
Hole burning study of cyanobacterial Photosystem II complexes differing in the content of small putative chlorophyll-binding proteins
Journal of Luminescence: 2004 107:230-235
-
Huang F, Hedman E, Funk C, Kieselbach T, Schroder WP, Norling B
Isolation of outer membrane of Synechocystis sp PCC 6803 and its proteomic characterization
Molecular & Cellular Proteomics: 2004 3:586-595
-
Schubert M, Petersson UA, Haas BJ, Funk C, Schroder WP, Kieselbach T
Proteome map of the chloroplast lumen of Arabidopsis thaliana (vol 277, pg 8354, 2002)
Journal of Biological Chemistry: 2003 278:13590-13590
-
Schofield SC, Campbell DA, Funk C, MacKenzie TDB
Changes in macromolecular allocation in nondividing algal symbionts allow for photosynthetic acclimation in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria
New Phytologist: 2003 159:709-718
-
Kieselbach T, Funk C
The family of Deg/HtrA proteases: from Escherichia coli to Arabidopsis
Physiologia Plantarum: 2003 119:337-346
-
Noren H, Svensson P, Stegmark R, Funk C, Adamska I, Andersson B
Expression of the early light-induced protein but not the PsbS protein is influenced by low temperature and depends on the developmental stage of the plant in field-grown pea cultivars
Plant Cell and Environment: 2003 26:245-253
-
Thidholm E, Lindstrom V, Tissier C, Robinson C, Schroder WP, Funk C
Novel approach reveals localisation and assembly pathway of the PsbS and PsbW proteins into the photosystem II dimer
Febs Letters: 2002 513:217-222
-
Schubert M, Petersson UA, Haas BJ, Funk C, Schroder WP, Kieselbach T
Proteome map of the chloroplast lumen of Arabidopsis thaliana
J Biol Chem: 2002 277:8354-8365
-
Clarke SM, Funk C, Hendry GS, Shand JA, Wydrzynski T, Eaton-Rye JJ
Amino acid deletions in the cytosolic domains of the chlorophyll alpha-binding protein CP47 slow Q(A)(-) oxidation and/or prevent the assembly of Photosystem II
Plant Molecular Biology: 2002 50:563-572
-
Xu H, Vavilin D, Funk C, Vermaas W
Small Cab-like proteins regulating tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp PCC 6803
Plant Molecular Biology: 2002 49:149-160
-
Funk C, Wiklund R, Schroder WP, Jansson C
D1 ' centers are less efficient than normal photosystem II centers
Febs Letters: 2001 505:113-117
-
Chow WS, Funk C, Hope AB, Govindjee
Greening of intermittent-light-grown bean plants in continuous light: thylakoid components in relation to photosynthetic performance and capacity for photoprotection
Indian J Biochem Biophys: 2000 37:395-404
-
Nield J, Funk C, Barber J
Supermolecular structure of photosystem II and location of the PsbS protein
Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London Series B-Biological Sciences: 2000 355:1337-1343
-
Schoefs B, Bertrand M, Funk C
Photoactive protochlorophyllide regeneration in cotyledons and leaves from higher plants
Photochem Photobiol: 2000 72:660-668
-
Funk C
Functional analysis of the PsbX protein by deletion of the corresponding gene in Synechocystis sp PCC 6803
Plant Molecular Biology: 2000 44:815-827
-
Funk C, Vermaas W
A cyanobacterial gene family coding for single-helix proteins resembling part of the light-harvesting proteins from higher plants
Biochemistry: 1999 38:9397-9404
-
Vermaas W, Xu H, He QF, Funk C, Paulsen H
Chlorophyll-binding proteins in cyanobacteria
Photochemistry and Photobiology: 1999 69:71S-72S
-
Funk C, Schroder WP, Salih G, Wiklund R, Jansson C
Engineering of N-terminal threonines in the D1 protein impairs photosystem II energy transfer in Synechocystis 6803
Febs Letters: 1998 436:434-438
-
Lindahl M, Funk C, Webster J, Bingsmark S, Adamska I, Andersson B
Expression of ELIPs and PS II-S protein in spinach during acclimative reduction of the Photosystem II antenna in response to increased tight intensities
Photosynthesis Research: 1997 54:227-236
-
Adamska I, Funk C, Renger G, Andersson B
Developmental regulation of the PsbS gene expression in spinach seedlings: the role of phytochrome
Plant Mol Biol: 1996 31:793-802
-
Funk C, Schroder WP, Napiwotzki A, Tjus SE, Renger G, Andersson B
The Psii-S Protein of Higher-Plants - a New-Type of Pigment-Binding Protein
Biochemistry: 1995 34:11133-11141
-
Funk C, Adamska I, Green BR, Andersson B, Renger G
The Nuclear-Encoded Chlorophyll-Binding Photosystem-Ii-S Protein Is Stable in the Absence of Pigments
Journal of Biological Chemistry: 1995 270:30141-30147
-
Irrgang KD, Shi LX, Funk C, Schroder WP
A Nuclear-Encoded Subunit of the Photosystem-Ii Reaction-Center
Journal of Biological Chemistry: 1995 270:17588-17593
-
Funk C, Schroder WP, Green BR, Renger G, Andersson B
The Intrinsic 22 Kda Protein Is a Chlorophyll-Binding Subunit of Photosystem-Ii
Febs Letters: 1994 342:261-266