Dr. Hüner's links: Dr. Norman P.A. Hüner
Photosynthesis and Energy Sensing
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Position: Canada Research Chair Office: North Campus Building 301-J Phone: (519) 661-2111 ext 86488 Fax: 519 661-3935 Email: nhuner@uwo.ca |
Research Statement:
Dr. Hüner's research is focussed on the mechanisms by which photosynthetic organisms initially sense changes in their environment with respect to temperature, light intensity and nutrient availability and subsequently adjust to these changes at the molecular, biochemical and physiological levels. Dr. Hüner's research team has discovered a general mechanism by which plants, green algae and cyanbacteria sense changes in their environment. Photostasis is a state whereby photosynthetic organisms maintain a balance between energy input through photochemistry and energy utilization through metabolism. Changes in light intensity, temperature and nutrient status disrupt this balance in energy status which can be detected as changes in ‘excitation pressure’ (Hüner et al., 1998, Trends in Plant Sciences, 3: 224-230). Thus, the photosynthetic apparatus acts not only as an energy transformer but also acts as a sensor for the detection of environmental changes. Research in this laboratory is elucidating the nature of this sensor as well as the mechanisms by which this redox sensor regulates gene expression and controls the structure, composition and function of the photosynthetic apparatus in order to maintain photostasis in plants, algae and cyanbacteria.
Research in Dr. Hüner's laboratory relies on biochemical, physiological and molecular techniques. These include: absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy; high pressure liquid chromatography; techniques for the isolation and purification of proteins, nucleic acids and membranes, column chromatography, ultra centrifugation, gel electronphoresis; gas exchange; enzyme kinetics; transmission electron microscopy.
Distinctions and Honours:
Research Awards
MRC Scholarship 1971-1973
UWO Research Fellow, 1980-81
NSERC University Research Fellow, 1981-91
CSPP C.D. Nelson Award for Outstanding Research, 1987
OECD Research Fellowship (France), 1988
Visiting Research Fellowship, National Research Council (Sweden), 1988
Florence Bucke Science Prize, 1989
Distinguished Research Professor, 1993
Fellow, Academy of Science, Royal Society of Canada, 1995
Honorary DSc, Umea University, Sweden, 1999
Canada Research Chair, 2002
Ontario Distinguished Researcher Award, 2003
Appointments
Chair, Department of Plant Sciences, UWO, 1998-2002
Director, Life Sciences Division, Royal Society of Canada, 1998-2001
Vice-President, Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists, 1999-2001
President, Canadian Society of Plant Physiologists, 2001-2003
Canada Research Chair, UWO, 2002-present
