Welcome to Luning Liu' Website

Research Interest

My research is aimed at studying the molecular bases of light capture and biological energy conservation in the photosynthetic apparatus, interactions and biogenesis of bioenergetic assemblies, as well as the physiological regulations of cellular energy metabolisms in phototrophic purple non-sulfur bacteria, cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae. Combining AFM, EM, confocal/TIRF microscopy with molecular genetic and biochemical approaches, I am interested in the membrane organisation and functioning of proteins within a network at both single-molecule and supercomplex levels, mechanisms of electron flux that is ensured by the dynamic assembly and organisation of the bioenergetic components in the membrane, as well as the physiological regulations of both membrane organisation and electron flow processes to environmental stimuli. My long-term goal is to understand the physiological adaptation of cellular metabolisms in phototrophic bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms.

Experise: Microbiology, Photosynthesis, Bioenergetics, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Biophysics, Microscopy

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Education and Employment

2012-now:
2010-2012:



2008-2010:


2005-2008:


2004-2008:


2002-2004:

1998-2002:

Principal Investigator, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, United Kingdom
Research Fellow in Queen Mary, University of London, United Kingdom, Group of Prof. Conrad Mullineaux.
Marie Curie fellowship for career development from European Commission
BBSRC Postdoc Research Fellow
Project: Distribution and dynamics of respiratory complexes in cyanobacteria
Postdoc researcher in Institut Curie (UMR168 CNRS), Paris, France. Group of Prof. Simon Scheuring.
Project: Structure and assembly of membrane proteins in native membranes by high-resolution atomic force microscopy  (AFM) imaging and force spectroscopy.
Ph.D researcher (joint) in Biophysics Department of Leiden University, Netherlands. Group of Prof. Thijs J. Aartsma.
Project: Supramolecular structure, function and physiological acclimation of light-harvesting complex and photosynthetic membrane in red algae.
Ph.D. of Microbiology, Shandong University, China. Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Yu-Zhong Zhang.
Project: Supramolecular structure, function and physiological acclimation of light-harvesting complex and photosynthetic membrane in red algae.
Master of Science in Microbiology, Shandong University, China.
Project: The isolation and biochemical characteristics of R-phycoerythrins from red macroalgae Polysiphonia urceolata.
Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shandong University, China

Research Grants

2013-2018:

2013-2014:

2012-2015:

2010-2012:

Royal Society University Research Fellowship (Oct 2013-Sep 2018). Unveiling structural assembly and regulation of cyanobacterial carboxysomes. (£548K)(PI)
Royal Society Research Grant (RG120594, Mar 2013-Feb 2014). Identifying the localisation, assembly and roles of cyanobacterial respiratory NDH-1 complexes. (£15K)(PI)
BBSRC, research grant (BB/J016985/1, Aug 2012-Jul 2015). Spatial dynamics of electron transport. (£430K)(co-investigator)
Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship (FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IEF 254575, Aug 2010-Sep 2012). Organization and dynamics of respiratory electron transport complexes in cyanobacteria. (€180K)(Research Fellow)

Awards and Scholarships

2010:
2009:
2008:
2007:
2006:
2005:
2005:
2004:

Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowship from European Commision
“Excellent PhD Thesis” of Shandong Province
“Excellent Graduate Student” of Shandong Province
Study Abroad Scholarship of Shandong University
Study Abroad Scholarship of Shandong University
“Excellent Student” of Shandong Province
President Scholarship of Shandong University
President Scholarship of Shandong University

Techniques and Skills

            -    High-resolution imaging with atomic force microscopy (AFM)
            -    Single-molecule force spectroscopy detecting interactions and unfolding of membrane proteins
            -    Wide-field confocal microscopy, laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), TIRF, single-molecular spectroscopy
            -    Electron microscopy: negative staining, thin sectioning, cryo
            -    Spectroscopy: absorption, fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy
            -    Purification and identification of proteins and membranes
            -    2D-crystallization of membrane proteins
            -    Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell culture
            -    Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry