Researchers at the University of Queensland and the University of Münster (WWU) have purified and visualized the Cyclic Electron Flow (CEF) supercomplex, a key component of all plant photosynthesis mechanisms that help guide the next generation of solar biology. The development of technology.
This discovery, in collaboration with the team of international scientists at the University of Basel, Okayama University and the University of New South Wales, was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and provides new insights into the photosynthesis process at the molecular level.
By 2050, we will need to increase fuel by 50%, 70% of food and 50% of clean water to meet the needs of all humans. Professor Ben Hankamer of the UQs Institute for Molecular Bioscience said that based on Photosynthetic microalgae technology has the potential to play an important role in meeting these needs. He is the head of the Centre for Solar Biotechnology. By better understanding how these microbes capture and store solar energy at the molecular level, Will promote the development of solar-based biotechnology.
Microalgae culture that grows rapidly under wastewater and light conditions.
For more than three billion years, plants, algae, and blue-green bacteria have evolved sophisticated nanoscale operations that enable them to perform photosynthesis, in which solar energy is captured and stored in the form of chemical energy.
This chemical energy exists in the form of ATP molecules and NADPH molecules, which are critical for many cellular processes.
ATP and NADPH allow photosynthetic organisms to grow. As they grow, they produce atmospheric oxygen and food and fuel that support life on Earth. Professor Hippler says he is at WWUs Plant Biology and Biology. Technical Institute work.
There are two modes of photosynthesis: linear electron flow (LEF) and cyclic electron flow (CEF). In order to work efficiently under changing light conditions, photosynthetic organisms must balance the light it absorbs with the energy it needs, ATP And NADPH. It does this by constantly fine-tuning the relationship between the two modes.
One of the photosynthesis forms: Circulating electron flow (picture from Leavingbio.net)
Two forms of photosynthesis: linear electron flow (Image from Leavingbio.net) There is biochemical evidence that a macromolecule called the Circulating Electron Flow (CEF) supercomplex plays a key role in this fine-tuning process. However, Professor Hankamer said that due to its dynamic nature, it is difficult to Supercomposites are used for structural determination.
To solve this problem, the team used a complex method to purify and characterize the CEF supercomplex from microalgae, and then analyzed its structure by electron microscopy.
In search of supercomplexes, researchers have painstakingly extracted about 500,000 protein complexes from microalgae. Only 1000 of them are CEF supercomplexes.
Structural analysis reveals how light-harvesting complexes, light systems and cytochrome b6f components assemble into CEF supercomplexes, and how they are arranged in such a way that they can be dynamically connected and disconnected to perform different functions, adapting organisms to different Light conditions and energy requirements.
This information, together with additional experimental evidence, enables researchers to propose a new hypothesis to explain how the CEF supercomplex works.
Professor Hippler said that the CEF supercomplex is an excellent example of an evolutionarily highly conserved structure. He explained that it seems to be protected in many plants and algae, and that it has not changed significantly for millions of years. .
Professor Hankamer explained that this work is crucial for the efforts of the Solar Biotechnology Center to develop the next generation of solar biotechnology and industry.
The center has expanded to include 30 international teams in Europe, Asia, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, and is committed to developing next-generation solar-powered biotechnology based on photosynthetic green algae.
The solar energy converted by photosynthesis is about 10 times that required by humans, and it is also the basis for most living things on the planet. Professor Hankamer said that the team's goal is to optimize the photosynthesis mechanism of green algae to produce technologies that help meet the world's energy, food and water needs. To achieve these goals, we need to understand how photosynthesis is at the molecular level. effective.
This new information will help guide the design of next-generation solar capture technologies based on microalgae and various solar-powered biotechnology and industries for the production of high-value products, food, fuel and clean water. Climate change solutions, extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and its use and storage are also exciting areas.
