Spectroscopy of Biomolecules

The research interests of the group of Prof. Janne Ihalainen lay at the intersection of biology, chemistry and physics. The general aim is to detect molecular processes in their own time-scale in nature, which facilitates understanding of the mechanism of biological reactions.

Research group type

Research group

Core fields of research

Basic natural phenomena and mathematical thinking

Research areas

Nanobiology

Nanoscience Center

Health and well-being (NSC)

Second quantum revolution

Sustainable society

Faculty

Faculty of Mathematics and Science

Department

Department of Biological and Environmental Science

Research group description

To date, our research focuses on a red photosensor proteins, phytochromes, and phototrophic bacteria.

The phytochrome proteins are important sensory proteins in plants, algae, fungi and many bacteria. In our studies, we have detected crystal and solution structures from resting and active states of red light photosensor protein (bacteriophytochromes) in a kinetic manner. For this, time-resolved X-ray solution scattering, together with X-ray crystallography, was utilised.

The photoheterotrophs, i.e. photoactive bacteria, are collected from plants and their role in their natural environment is investigated. In particular, they are tested for bacteriochlorophyll synthesis which reports the capability of microbes to perform anoxygenic photosynthetic processes in aerobic environment.

Videos about my projects and teaching

A small intro to my photosynthesis lecture

Publications

Publication

2025

Physiologia Plantarum.

Mäkinen, Emilia A.

Franz, Ole

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Helander, Marjo

Nissinen, Riitta

Mathew, Suni A.

Saloniemi, Irma

Saikkonen, Kari

Publication

2025

Communications Chemistry.

Malla, Tek Narsingh

Aldama, Luis

Leon, Viridiana

Feliz, Denisse

Hu, Hao

Thomas, Isaiah

Cellini, Andrea

Wahlgren, Weixiao Y.

Nimmrich, Amke

Botha, Sabine

Sierra, Ray

Hunter, Mark S.

Poitevin, Frédéric

Lisova, Stella

Batyuk, Alexander

Gate, Gregory

Jernigan, Rebecca

Kupitz, Christopher J.

Maj, Piotr

Meszaros, Petra

Kurttila, Moona

Monrroy, Leonardo

Luo, Fangjia

Owada, Shigeki

Kang, Jungmin

Slavov, Chavdar

Maj, Michal

Gautier, Candice

Kashipathy, Maithri

Tolstikova, Alexandra

Mariani, Valerio

Barty, Anton

Moss, Frank

Schwander, Peter

Liu, Haiguang

Boutet, Sébastien

Fromme, Petra

Takala, Heikki

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Weierstall, Uwe

Westenhoff, Sebastian

Stojković, Emina A.

Schmidt, Marius

Publication

2024

Microbiology Spectrum.

Shroff, Sailee

Haapakoski, Marjo

Tapio, Kosti

Laajala, Mira

Leppänen, Miika

Plavec, Zlatka

Haapala, Antti

Butcher, Sarah J.

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Toppari, J. Jussi

Marjomäki, Varpu

Publication

2024

Nature Chemistry.

Cellini, Andrea

Shankar Madan, Kumar

Nimmrich, Amke

Hunt Leigh, Anna

Monrroy, Leonardo

Mutisya, Jennifer

Furrer, Antonia

Beale, Emma V.

Carrillo, Melissa

Malla Tek, Narsingh

Maj, Piotr

Vrhovac, Lidija

Dworkowski, Florian

Cirelli, Claudio

Johnson, Philip J. M.

Ozerov, Dmitry

Stojković, Emina A.

Hammarström, Leif

Bacellar, Camila

Standfuss, Jörg

Maj, Michał

Schmidt, Marius

Weinert, Tobias

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Wahlgren, Weixiao Yuan

Westenhoff, Sebastian

Publication

2024

Journal of Molecular Biology.

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Dogan, Batuhan

Kurttila, Moona

Zeng, Yonghui

van Elsas, Jan Dirk

Nissinen, Riitta

Publication

2024

PLoS ONE.

Franz, Ole

Häkkänen, Heikki

Kovanen, Salla

Heikkilä-Huhta, Kati

Nissinen, Riitta

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Publication

2024

One Earth.

Saikkonen, Kari

Birge, Traci

Fuchs, Benjamin

Helander, Marjo

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Nissinen, Riitta

Puigbò, Pere

Publication

2023

Structure.

Kurttila, Moona

Rumfeldt, Jessica

Takala, Heikki

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Publication

2022

Nature Communications.

Wahlgren, Weixiao Yuan

Claesson, Elin

Tuure, Iida

Trillo-Muyo, Sergio

Bódizs, Szabolcs

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Takala, Heikki

Westenhoff, Sebastian

Publication

2022

Photochemical and Photobiological Sciences.

Kurttila, Moona

Etzl, Stefan

Rumfeldt, Jessica

Takala, Heikki

Galler, Nadine

Winkler, Andreas

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Publication

2021

IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium. IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium proceedings.

Porcar-Castell, Albert

Malenovsky, Zbynek

Magney, Troy

Van Wittenberghe, Shari

Fernandez-Marin, Beatriz

Maignan, Fabienne

Zhang, Yongguang

Maseyk, Kadmiel

Atherton, Jon

Albert, Loren P.

Robson, Thomas Matthew

Zhao, Feng

Garcia-Plazaola, Jose-Ignacio

Ensminger, Ingo

Rajewicz, Paulina A.

Grebe, Steffen

Tikkanen, Mikko

Kellner, James R.

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Rascher, Uwe

Logan, Barry

Publication

2021

Nature Plants.

Porcar-Castell, Albert

Malenovský, Zbyněk

Magney, Troy

Van Wittenberghe, Shari

Fernández-Marín, Beatriz

Maignan, Fabienne

Zhang, Yongguang

Maseyk, Kadmiel

Atherton, Jon

Albert, Loren P.

Robson, Thomas Matthew

Zhao, Feng

Garcia-Plazaola, Jose-Ignacio

Ensminger, Ingo

Rajewicz, Paulina A.

Grebe, Steffen

Tikkanen, Mikko

Kellner, James R.

Ihalainen, Janne A.

Rascher, Uwe

Logan, Barry

Research group

Group leaders

Janne Ihalainen

Professor

Members

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