Virtual Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry and Photobiology
(VLPBP)
Headquarters of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research, Champaign Illinois
Please Note that you Have Been Redirected to "http://www.vlpbp.org" the New Web Address of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research.
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Topics
The laboratory of Plant Biochemistry and Photobiology (LPBP), ex-LPPBP, which was directed by C. A. Rebeiz, was a research unit of the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences(NRES) within the College of Agricultural Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES), University of Illinois, Urbana Campus. Click HERE for selected research highlights of C. A. Rebeiz. It was founded with a mission of studying the chemistry and biochemistry of the GREENING PROCESS. Since its inception in 1972, LPBP grew into a multidisciplinary research center with several major discoveries to its credit. In 1983, the laboratory won a remodeling for excellence award of about 1 million dollars from the University and State of Illinois. The award was used to remodel new research facilities. In July 1986, LPBP moved into about 5000 square feet of state-of-the art remodeled research space. Then in December 1986, the laboratory received a monetary gift from John P. Trebellas, an Urbana-Champaign philanthropist, to establish the John P. Trebellas Photobiotechnology Research Endowment aimed at enabling LPBP to become a researchcatalyst among various departments within and outside ACES and at "Bettering the Human Condition Through Basic and AgriculturalPhotobiotechnological Research". In April, 1991, LPBP moved into the newly constructed 30 million dollar University of Illinois Edward Robert Madigan Laboratory (ERML) where LPBP functions in close proximity with plant and animal molecular biologists, biophysicists, biochemists and physiologists. In 1996 LPBP received the C. A and C. C. Rebeiz Endowment for Basic Research with matching funds from ACES and NRES.Proceeds from the various endowments were used to support graduate study within LPBP. In November 1998, professor Donald P. Briskin, a well known plant biochemist with interest in medicinal plant chemistry and biochemistry, joined forces with LPPBP.
On June 30, 2005, with the retirement of C. A. Rebeiz from the University of Illinois, and the establishment of the Rebeiz Foundation forBasic Research, the Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry and Photobiology has been converted into the Virtual Laboratory of Plant Biochemistry and Photobiology (VLPBP). In Addition to its dedication to the promotion of research dealing with the greening process, the VLPBP website will be expanded to become the voice of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research. The Foundation will be a clearing house for the promotion ofChloroplast Research and Bioengineering Nationally and Internationally. Among other things, the "Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research will deliver annual prizes for the best research papers in the fields of chloroplast biochemistry and molecular biology , as well as one yearly Life-Time Achievement Award for a qualified chloroplast scientist. Gradually the number of awards will be increased form two to nine awards to eventually cover the nine chloroplast research areas listed below . In due time, the Foundation will feature papers of the month and papers of the year to promote the best research on chloroplast biochemistry and molecular biology.
At the present the Governing Board of the Foundation consists of:
Constantin A. Rebeiz, (crebeiz@uiuc.edu), President, Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research;
Thomas Bach, (Thomas.Bach@bota-ulp.u-strasbg.fr) University of Stasbourg.
Christoph Benning, (benning@msu.edu), Michigan State University.
Hans Bohnert, (bohnert@life.uiuc.edu), University of Illinois.
Henry Daniell, (daniell@mail.ucf.edu), Central Florida University)
Govindjee, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for the light reactions of photosynthesis (gov@life.uiuc.edu)
Natalia Dudareva, (dudareva@purdue.edu) Purdue University.
Kenneth Hoober, (khoober@asu.edu), Vice-President Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research, and Solarapharma.
Archie Portis, (arportis@uiuc.edu), University of Illinois.
Baishnab Tripathy, (bctripathy@mail.jnu.ac.in), Nehru University.
Julian Whitelegge (jpw@chem.ucla.edu), University of California at Los Angeles.
Carole Rebeiz, (ccrebeiz@aol.com), Secretary, Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research.
First International Symposium On Chloroplast Bioengineering: University of Illinois, Lincoln Historical Hotel, May 2-May 7, 2005
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The First International Symposium on Chloroplast Bioengineering was held in Urbana on May 2-7, 2005. A book in two volumes based on the the proceedings of the Symposium will be published in two voluumes in 2008.
Table of Content of the Two-Volume Book based on the Proceedings of the First International Symposium on Chloroplast Bioengineering held in Urbana on May 2-7, 2005, to be Published in 2008
Click Here to view the Table of Content
The First Annual Prizes of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research will be Delivered by June 2007. Details about nomination and the prizes are given,
Here.
The First Lifetime Achievement Prize of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research Awarded to Professor Govindjee
The Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research (RFFBR) 2006 Lifetime Achievement Prize has been awarded to Professor Govindjee by the Governing Board of the RFFBR. The award ceremony will take place in the Foundation Headquarters on Saturday June 16, 2007 starting a 6.30 pm. Dinner and Wine will be served buffet style.
Professor Govindjee was awardesd the RFFBR Lifetime Achievement Prize for his outstanding contributiosn to Photosynthesis Research and his continued and dignified service to the Photosynthesis Community. A Brief account of Govindjee's achievement is given Here
Drs Britta Forster and Colleagues Have Received the First 2006 Annual Paper Prize of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research
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The First RFFBR 2006 Paper Prize has been awarded to Drs. Britta Forster, Ulrike Mathesius and Barry P. Pogson for their paper on the "Compartive Proteomics of High-Light Stress in the Model Alga Clamydomonas reinhardtii, which was published in: Proteomics 6: 4309-4320 (2006). Click Here for a brief summary of the paper.
In selecting that paper for the first 2006 RFFBR Paper Award, The Foundation Board of Directors felt that the described work will greatly benefit other chloroplast researchers.
The Second Annual Prizes of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research will be Delivered by June 2008. Details about nomination and the prizes are given, Here.
Papers of the Month
One of the missions of the Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research is to depict monthly, in this section of the website, a paper of the month. The submitted papers will also qualify for consideration for the "Rebeiz Foundation for Basic Research Paper award", which is described above.
Chloroplast scientist are invited to submit PDF copies of papers published in 2007, which they believe qualify for depiction on this website.
Please email PDF copies of the paper(s) to my attention at "crebeiz@uiuc.edu" or to the attention of any Board Director. The latter, and their email addresses, are listed above.
Analysis and comments about academic issues will be posted in this space.
1. Rebeiz, C. A. (11/5/2006). Academic and Corporate Research Models: Analysis and Comments, Click
HERE to view the full length essay.
Computation Software
A description of a Post-acquisition software for quantitative calculation of the porphyrin and phorbin metabolic pools of the heme and
chlorophyll biosynthetic pathways by spectrofluorometry is described HERE.
To Calculate a porphyrin concentration, click on the "Porphyrin Analytical Tools"
link and follow the described step-by-step instructions. When the Java Security Warning Window appears, click on the Grant This Session
button. In order to perform quantitative calculations with the Java routine, it is mandatory to download and install the Java (TM) 2 Runtime
Environment Standard Edition file named: J2re-1_4_0_01-windows-i586. This self-extractable and -installable file can be downloaded from the
following website: http://java.sun.com, by clicking the "Download J2seTMv1.4 Now button.
Note: This program was developped by Professor Daniel G. Saab of Case Western University.
The program is meant to handle spectral data generated on fully corrected SLM DW2 spectrofluorometers with Data.dat file structure. Later on a
similar program will be added to handle spectral data acquired on fully corrected SPEX spectrofluorometers with Data.Spc file format. It
should be kept in mind that the equations were compiled with photomultiplier sentivities of LPBP SLM Spectrofluorometers. Individuals who wish
to obtain accurate computations should construct calibration curves that relate known porphyrin concentrations to the web-calculated
concentrations. In this manner the user would have a correction factor for every listed equation that relates their instrument sentivity to
LPBP's.
- Copy the Data.dat file containing the spectral data anywhere to the hard drive or keep it on a removable diskette.
- Browse to the location of the Data.dat file and doudle click on it. Click on the "ClickHereToLoadData" button to load the data on
the computer.
- Select a porphyrin equation such as Proto....E400, E440 from the dropdown menu.
- Enter the spectral location (a 1-83 number) for the E400 spectrum, i.e.for the emission spectrum elicited by excitation at 400 nm.
- Enter the spectral location (a 1-83 number) for the E440 spectrum, i.e.for the emission spectrum elicited by excitation at 440 nm.
- Click on "ClickHereToDisplayResults" The results i. e. the Proto concentration in pmole/ml +/- standard deviation is
displayed in the display window.
- The "Total_Q" entry is meant for the MV, DV equations. An entry of 100 will yield the percent of the MV and DV components for a specific
MV + DV mixture of the tetrapyrrole. An entry of the total MV + DV tetapyrole content will yield the actual amounts of MV and DV
tetrapyrrole components in pmoles/ml.
- Stephen O. Duke and C A. Rebeiz (1994). Porphyric Pesticides: Chemistry,Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Applications, S.O. Duke and
C. A. Rebeiz, eds. ACS Symposium Series 559 pp 317.
- Rebeiz, C. A. (1994). Photodynamic Herbicidal Compositions Using Delta-Aminolevulinic Acid. U. S. Patent Ser. No. 5,286,708
pp 38.
- Rebeiz, C. A., Juvik, J. A. and Rebeiz C. C. (1994) Porphyric insecticides. U. S. Patent Ser. No 5300526, pp. 18.
- Rebeiz, C. A. (1994) Photodynamic Defoliants. U. S. Patent Ser. No 5321001, pp. 23.
- Gut, L. J., Lee, K., Juvik, J. A. Rebeiz, C. C. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1994) Porphyric Insecticides 6. Structure Activity Study of
Substituted Pyridyls. Pest. Biochem. Physiol. 50: 1-14.
- Ioannides, I., Fasoula D. A., Robertson, K. R. and Rebeiz, C. A. An evolutionary study of chlorophyll biosynthetic heterogeneity in
green plants.(1994) Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 22:211-220.
- Rebeiz, C. A., Parham, R., Fasoula, D. A., and Ioannides, I. M. (1994) Chlorophyll a Biosynthetic Heterogeneity. In: Biosynthesis of
tetrapyrrole pigments. Ciba Symposium 180. pp 177-193, John Wiley, New York.
- Duke S. O. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1994). Porphyrinogenesis as a tool in pest management. In: Porphyric Pesticides: Chemisry, Toxicology, and
Pharmaceutical Applications (S. O. Duke and C. A. Rebeiz, eds.) ACS Symposium Series 559, pp 1-16
- Rebeiz C. A., Amindari S., Reddy N. K., Nandihalli U. B. Moubarak M. B., and Velu, J. A. (1994) Delta-aminolevulinic Acid-Based
Herbicides . In: Porphyric Pesticides: Chemisry, Toxicology, and Pharmaceutical Applications (S. O. Duke and C. A. Rebeiz, eds.) ACS
Symposium Series 559 pp. 48-64.
- Reddy K. N. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1994). Modulators of the porphyrin pathway beyond protox. In: Porphyric Pesticides : Chemisry,
Toxicology, and Pharmaceutical Applications (S. O. Duke and C. A. Rebeiz, eds.) ACS Symposium Series 559, pp. 161-190.
- Gut, L. J., Juvik, J. A. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1994). Porphyric insecticides. In: Porphyric Pesticides: Chemisry, Toxicology, and
Pharmaceutical Applications (S. O. Duke and C. A. Rebeiz, eds.) ACS Symposium Series 559. pp. 206-232.
- Rebeiz, N., Kelley, K. W. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1994). Porphyrins as chemotherapeutic agents: Biochemistry of protoporphyrin IX
accumulation in mammalian cells. In: Porphyric Pesticides: Chemistry, Toxicology, and Pharmaceutical Applications (S. O. Duke and
C. A. Rebeiz, eds.) ACS Symposium Series 559. pp. 233-246.
- Rebeiz, C. A., Gut, L. J., Lee, K., Juvik, J. A., Rebeiz, C. C., Bouton, C. E. (1995) Photodynamics of porphyric insecticides. Crit.
Rev. Plant Sci. 14: 329-366.
- Parham R. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1995) Chloroplast Biogenesis 72: A [4-Vinyl]chlorophyllide a Reductase assay using divinyl chlorophyllide a
as an exogenous substrate. Anal Biochem. 231: 164-169.
- Lee K, and Rebeiz, C. A. (1995) Subcellular localization of protoporphyrin IX and its photodynamic effects on mitochondrial function of
the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni). In: Light Activated Pesticides (J. R. Heitz and K. R. Downum, eds.) ACS Symposium Series 616
, pp 152-163.
- Amindari S., Splittstosser, W. E., and Rebeiz C. A. (1995) Photodynamic effects of several metabolic tetrapyrroles on isolated
chloroplasts. In: Light Activated Pesticides (J. R. Heitz and K. R. Downum, eds.) ACS Symposium Series 616, pp 217-246.
- Kim, Jin-Seog, and Rebeiz, C. A. (1995). An improved analysis for determination of monovinyl and divinyl protoporphyrin IX.
J. Photosci. 2: 103-106.
- Rebeiz, N., Arkins, S. Rebeiz, C. A., Simon, J., Zachary, J. F., and Kelley, K. W. (1996). Induction of tumor necrosis by
delta-aminolevulinic acid and 1,10-phenanthroline. Cancer Res. 56:339-344.
- Fasoula, D. A., Smyth, C. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1996) Relationship of the Protochlorophyllide a content to Plant yield. In:
Handbook of Photosynthesis, (M. Pessarakli, ed.) pp 671-679, Marcel Dekker, New York.
- Rebeiz, N., Arkins, S., Kelley, K. W., and Rebeiz, C. A. (1996). Enhancement of coproporphyrinogen III transport into isolated
transfromed leukocyte mitochondria by ATP. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 333:475-481.
- Kim, Jin-Seog, and Rebeiz, C. A. (1996) Origin of the chlorophyll a biosynthetic heterogeneity in higher plants. J. Biochem.
Mol. Biol. 29: 327-334.
- Awad Abd El Mageed, H., El Sahhar, K. F., Robertson, K. R., Parham, R. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1997) Chloroplast Biogenesis 77: Two novel
monovinyl and divinyl light-dark greening groups of plants and their relationships to the Chlorophyll a biosynthetic heterogeneity
of green plants. Photochem. Photobiol. 66:86-96.
- Ioannides I. M., Shedbalkar, V. P., and Rebeiz, C. A. (1997) Quantitative determination of 2-monovinyl protochlorphyll)ide) b
by spectrofluorometry. Anal. Biochem. 249:241-244.
- Kim, J. S., Kolossov, V. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1997). Chloroplast biogenesis 76. Regulation of 4-vinyl reduction during conversion of divinyl
Mg-protoporphyrin IX to monovinyl protochlorophyllide a is controlled by plastid and membrane stromal factors. Photosynthetica 34: 569-58.
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Adra, A. N. and Rebeiz, C. A. (1998) Chloroplast Biogenesis 81. Tansient Formation of divinyl chlorophyll a following a 2.5 millisecond
light flash treatment of etiolated cucumber cotyledons. Photochem. Photobiol. 68: 852-856 .
- Rebeiz, C. A., Ioannides, I. M., Kolossov, V. and Kopetz, K. J. (1999) Chloroplast Biogenesis 80. Proposal of a unified chlorophyll
a/b biosynthetic pathway. Photosynthetica. 36:117-128 .
- Kolossov, V., Ioannides, I. M., Kulur, S., and Rebeiz, C. A.. (1999) Chloroplast Biogenesis 82. Development of a Cell-Free System
Capable of the Net Synthesis of Chlorophyll(ide) b. Photosynthetica. 36: 253-258 .
- Rebeiz, N., Arkins, S., Kelley, K. W., Dura, G., and Rebeiz, C. A.. (2001) . Modulator of heme biosynthesis induces apoptosis in
leukemia cells. J. Clin. Laser Surgery.. 19: 59-67 .
- Kolossov, V. L., and Rebeiz, C. A. (2001). Chloroplast Biogenesis 84: Solubilization and partial purification of membrane-bound [4-vinyl]
chlorophyllide a reductase from etiolated barley leaves Anal. Biochem.. 295: 214-219.
- Rebeiz, C. A. (2002). Analysis of Intermediates and end products of the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway. In Heme, Chlorophyll, and
Bilins: Methods and Protocols, (A. G. Smith, and M. Witty eds.) Humana press , pp 111-155.
- Kolossov, V. Kopetz, K. J., and Rebeiz, C. A. (2003). Chloroplast Biogenesis 87: Evidence of resonance excitation energy transfer between
tetrapyrrole intermediates of the chlorophyll biosynthetic pathway and chlorophyll a. Phtochem. Photobiol. 78: 184-196.
- Rebeiz, C. A. Kolossov, V. L., Briskin, D., and Gawienowski, M. (2003). Chloroplast Biogenesis:
Chlorophyll biosynthetic heterogeneity, multiple biosynthetic routes and biological spin-offs. In, Handbook of Photochemistry and
Photobiology. (H. S. Nalwa ed.), American Scientific Publishers, Los Angeles, Vol 4, pp. 183-248.
- Kolossov V. L. and Rebeiz, C. A. (2003) Chloroplast Biogenesis 88: Protochlorophyllide b
Occurs in Green but not in Etiolated Plants. J. Biol. Chem. 278: 49675-49678
- Kopetz, K. K., Kolossov, V. L., and Rebeiz, C. A. (2004). Chloroplast Biogenesis 89: Development of analytical tools for probing the
biosynthetic topography of photosynthetic membranes by determination of resonance excitation energy transfer distances separating metabolic
tetrapyrrole donors from chlorophyll a acceptors. Anal. Biochem. 329:207-219
- Rebeiz, C. A., Kolossov, V. L. and Kopetz, K. K. (2004). Chloroplast Bioengineering 1. Photosynthetic efficiency, Modulation of the photosynthetic unit size, and the agriculture of the future. In: Agricultural Applications of Green Chemistry (W. M. Nelson, ed.) ACS Symposium Series 887 pp 81-105.
- Kolossov V. L. and Rebeiz, C. A. (2005). Chloroplast Biogenesis 91: Detection of d-aminolevulinic acid esterase
activity in higher plant and insect tissues. Pest.Biochem. Physiol. 83: 9-20.
- Rebeiz, C. A. Kopetz, K. J. and Kolossov, V. L. (2005). Chloroplast Biiogenesis 90. Probing the Relationship between chlorophyll
biosynthetic routes and the topography of chloroplast biogenesis by resonance excitation energy transfer determinations. In: handbook pof
Photosynthesis (M. Pessarakli, ed.) Marcel Dekker Inc. New York, pp 55-95.
- Kolossov V. L., Bohnert H., and Rebeiz, C. A. (2006) Chloroplast biogenesis 92: In situ screening for divinyl chlorophyll(ide) a
reductase mutants by spectrofluorometry. Anal. Biochem. 348: 192-197
A new routine for the determination of distances separating anabolic tetrapyrroles from Chl-protein complexes in thylakoid membraneshas
been developed.
- Meaningful scientific discoveries are those that help humans achieve a better understanding of themselves, of their environment and of
the universe at large, as well as those that contribute to the betterment of the human, spiritual, psychological and physical condition
(C. A. Rebeiz).
- It takes excellence to recognize excellence, while mediocrity breeds mediocrity (C. A. Rebeiz).
- The time continuum consists of the past present and future. Understanding the past is essential for a better understanding of
the present and future. Technology can help solve the problems of the present. However understanding the forces that control and
regulate the physical and biological components of the universe is mandatory for the development of future technologies (C. A. Rebeiz).
- Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds (Albert Einstein).
- A man has to resolve either to put out nothing new or to become a slave to defend it (Faraday).
- One of the true measures of greatness resides in the willingness and ability of truly great men to recognize excellence when they
encounter it (Unknown).
- Throughout her carrier she has shown that true originality has no need to fear competition, that a first-rate intellect can set its own
criteria for self-esteem,and that the joy of discovery can be given precedence over all else (Allan Campbell about McClintock).
- The first step in acomplishing anything is the belief that it can be done (Unknown).
The greening process material on this website will be undergoing a major update during 2004
. In the process the numbering of all biochemical routes will be gradually modified in order to conform to the numbering of the newly formulated Chl a/b integrated multibranched pathway.
Section I, "Heme and Chlorophyll Biosynthetic Pathways" has been updated.
Section II "Reactions Between Delta-Aminolevulinic acid and
Protoporphyhrin IX (Proto)" has been updated.
Section III "The Iron and Mg-branches of the Porphyrin
Biosynthetic Pathway" has been updated.
Section IV "The Chl a Carboxylic Routes Between
Mg-Protoporphyrin IX (Mg-proto and Protochlorophyllide (Pchlide a has been updated.
Section V "The Chl a Carboxylic Biosynthetic
Routes: Protochlorophyllides a (Pchlide a) has been updated.
Section VI. (Photo)Conversion of Protochlorophyllides (Pchlides)
a to Chlorophyllide (Chlide) a has been updated.
Section VII. The Chl a Carboxylic Biosynthetic
Routes: Conversion of Chlide a to Chl a has been updated.
Section VIII. The fully Esterified Chl a Biosynthetic
Routes: Reactions Between Mg-Protoporphyrin Diester (Mpde) and Chl a has been updated.
Section IX. The Chl b Biosynthetic Pathway: Novel Metabolic
Intermediates has been updated
Section X. The Chl b Biosynthetic Pathway: Intermediary
metabolism has been updated
Section XI. The Chl b Biosynthetic Routes has been updated
Section XII. Relationship of Chlorophyll Biosynthetic heterogeneity to the Greening Group affiliation of Plants has been updated
Section XIII. Relationship of Chlorophyll Biosynthetic Heterogeneity to the Assembly of Chlorophyll-Protein Complexes has been updated
Section XIV. Relationship of Chlorophyll Biosynthetic Heterogeneity to Photosynthetic Efficiency has been updated
Section XV.Development of Non-Photosynthetic Photobiotechnologies has been updated
Section XVI. Sequenced Enzymes of the Heme and Chlorophyll Biosynthetic Pathways has been updated
Section XVII. Sequenced Apoproteins of Pigment-Protein Complexes has been updated
Section XVIII. Some Major Steps in the Understanding of the Chemistry and Biochemistry of Chl is been updated
Section XIX.Terminology has been updated
Feed backs addressed to crebeiz@uiuc.edu are welcome.
Photobiology Online
Porphynet
RFFBR CELLAR
You can reach us by e-mail at: CRebeiz@uiuc.edu
Telephone:(217)356-3675
Fax:(217)356-2131
Telephone:(217)356-3675
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Last Update on:11/12/2007
This web site is maintained by C. A. Rebeiz.
