Redirecting the electron flow towards the nitrogenase and bidirectional Hox-hydrogenase by using specific inhibitors results in enhanced H2 production in the cyanobacterium Anabaena siamensis TISTR 8012

Characterization and potentiality of plant-derived silver nanoparticles for enhancement of biomass and hydrogen production in Chlorella sp. under nitrogen deprived condition

Energy is a crucial entity for the development and it has various alternative forms of energy sources. Recently, the synthesis of nanoparticles using benign biocatalyst has attracted increased attention. In this study, silver nanoparticles were synthesized and characterized using Azadirachta indica plant-derived phytochemical as the reducing agent. Biomass of the microalga Chlorella sp. cultivated in BG11 medium increased after exposure to low concentrations of up to 0.48 mg L-1 AgNPs. In addition, algal cells treated with 0.24 mg L-1 AgNPs and cultivated in BG110 medium which contained no nitrogen source showed the highest hydrogen yield of 10.8 mmol L-1, whereas the untreated cells under the same conditions showed very low hydrogen yield of 0.003 mmol L-1. The enhanced hydrogen production observed in the treated cells was consistent with an increase in hydrogenase activity. Treatment of BG110 grown cells with low concentration of green synthesized AgNPs at 0.24 mg L-1 enhanced hydrogenase activity with a 5-fold increase of enzyme activity compared to untreated BG110 grown cells. In addition, to improve photolytic water splitting efficiency for hydrogen production, cells treated with AgNPs at 0.24 mg L-1 showed highest oxygen evolution signifying improvement in photosynthesis. The silver nanoparticles synthesized using phytochemicals derived from plant enhanced both microalgal biomass and hydrogen production with an added advantage of CO2 reduction which could be achieved due to an increase in biomass. Hence, treating microalgae with nanoparticles provided a promising strategy to reduce the atmospheric carbon dioxide as well as increasing production of hydrogen as clean energy.

Extracellular self-photosensitizer combined with metal oxide-based nano bio-hybrid system encapsulated by alginate improves hydrogen production in the presence of oxygen

The photocatalytic nano-biohybrid systems have great potential for the conversion of solar energy to fermentative hydrogen production. Herein, a whole-cell nano-biohybrid system consisting of biosynthesized cadmium sulfide, Enterobacter aerogenes cells, and metal oxide nanoparticles was constructed. The system was encapsulated with sodium alginate and used for light-driven biohydrogen production under anaerobic and in the presence of oxygen conditions. After 48 h incubation in the presence of oxygen, the E. aerogenes cells with the encapsulated hybrid system yielded 2.7 mmol H2/mmol glucose, a 13.5-fold higher than that of the E. aerogenes cells without encapsulation. The encapsulated hybrid system could produce hydrogen for up to 96 h and could produce hydrogen even under natural sunlight conditions. These results revealed that efficient hydrogen production is possible in the presence of oxygen. Overall, the present study demonstrated the potential of using proper nano-biohybrid system with encapsulation for the production of hydrogen under ambient air condition.

Hydrogenase and Nitrogenase: Key Catalysts in Biohydrogen Production

Hydrogen with high energy content is considered to be a promising alternative clean energy source. Biohydrogen production through microbes provides a renewable and immense hydrogen supply by utilizing raw materials such as inexhaustible natural sunlight, water, and even organic waste, which is supposed to solve the two problems of "energy supply and environment protection" at the same time. Hydrogenases and nitrogenases are two classes of key enzymes involved in biohydrogen production and can be applied under different biological conditions. Both the research on enzymatic catalytic mechanisms and the innovations of enzymatic techniques are important and necessary for the application of biohydrogen production. In this review, we introduce the enzymatic structures related to biohydrogen production, summarize recent enzymatic and genetic engineering works to enhance hydrogen production, and describe the chemical efforts of novel synthetic artificial enzymes inspired by the two biocatalysts. Continual studies on the two types of enzymes in the future will further improve the efficiency of biohydrogen production and contribute to the economic feasibility of biohydrogen as an energy source.

Flv3A facilitates O2 photoreduction and affects H2 photoproduction independently of Flv1A in diazotrophic Anabaena filaments

The model heterocyst-forming filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (Anabaena) is a typical example of a multicellular organism capable of simultaneously performing oxygenic photosynthesis in vegetative cells and O₂ -sensitive N₂ -fixation inside heterocysts. The flavodiiron proteins have been shown to participate in photoprotection of photosynthesis by driving excess electrons to O₂ (a Mehler-like reaction). Here, we performed a phenotypic and biophysical characterization of Anabaena mutants impaired in vegetative-specific Flv1A and Flv3A in order to address their physiological relevance in the bioenergetic processes occurring in diazotrophic Anabaena under variable CO₂ conditions. We demonstrate that both Flv1A and Flv3A are required for proper induction of the Mehler-like reaction upon a sudden increase in light intensity, which is likely important for the activation of carbon-concentrating mechanisms and CO₂ fixation. Under ambient CO₂ diazotrophic conditions, Flv3A is responsible for moderate O₂ photoreduction, independently of Flv1A, but only in the presence of Flv2 and Flv4. Strikingly, the lack of Flv3A resulted in strong downregulation of the heterocyst-specific uptake hydrogenase, which led to enhanced H₂ photoproduction under both oxic and micro-oxic conditions. These results reveal a novel regulatory network between the Mehler-like reaction and the diazotrophic metabolism, which is of great interest for future biotechnological applications.

Simazine Enhances Dark Fermentative H2 Production by Unicellular Halotolerant Cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica

The halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica is a potential H₂ producer that induces H₂ evolution under nitrogen deprivation. H₂ is mainly produced via the catabolism of stored glycogen under dark anaerobic condition. H₂ evolution is catalyzed by O₂-sensitive bidirectional hydrogenase. The aim of this study was to improve H₂ production by A. halophytica using various kinds of inhibitors. Among all types of inhibitors, simazine efficiently promoted the highest H₂ production under dark conditions. High simazine concentration and long-term incubation resulted in a decrease in cell and chlorophyll concentrations. The optimal simazine concentration for H₂ production by A. halophytica was 25 µM. Simazine inhibited photosynthetic O₂ evolution but promoted dark respiration, resulting in a decrease in O₂ level. Hence, the bidirectional hydrogenase activity and H₂ production was increased. A. halophytica showed the highest H₂ production rate at 58.88 ± 0.22 µmol H₂ g⁻¹ dry weight h⁻¹ and H₂ accumulation at 356.21 ± 6.04 μmol H₂ g⁻¹ dry weight after treatment with 25 µM simazine under dark anaerobic condition for 2 and 24 h, respectively. This study demonstrates the potential of simazine for the enhancement of dark fermentative H₂ production by A. halophytica.

Design and applications of photobioreactors- a review

There has been increasing attention in recent years on the use of photobioreactors for various biotechnological applications, especially for the cultivation of microalgae. Photobioreactors-based production of photosynthetic microorganisms furnish several advantages as minimising toxicity and providing improved conditions. However, the designing and scaling-up of photobioreactors (PBRs) remain a challenge. Due to huge capital investment and operating cost, there is a deficiency of suitable PBRs for development of photosynthetic microorganisms on large-scale. It is, therefore, highly desirable to understand the current state-of-the-art PBRs, their advantages and limitations so as to classify different PBRs as per their most suited applications. This review provides a holistic overview of the discreet features of diverse PBR designs and their purpose in microalgae growth and biohydrogen production and also summarizes the recent development in use of hybrid PBRs to increase their working efficiency and overall economics of their operation for the production of value-added products.

Emerging technologies for sustainable production of biohydrogen production from microalgae: A state-of-the-art review of upstream and downstream processes

Biohydrogen (BioH₂) is considered as one of the most environmentally friendly fuels and a strong candidate to meet the future demand for a sustainable source of energy. Presently, the production of BioH₂ from photosynthetic organisms has raised a lot of hopes in the fuel industry. Moreover, microalgal-based BioH₂ synthesis not only helps to combat current global warming by capturing greenhouse gases but also plays a key role in wastewater treatment. Hence, this manuscript provides a state-of-the-art review of the upstream and downstream BioH₂ production processes. Different metabolic routes such as direct and indirect photolysis, dark fermentation, photofermentation, and microbial electrolysis are covered in detail. Upstream processes (e.g. growth techniques, growth media) also have a great impact on BioH₂ productivity and economics, which is also explored. Technical and scientific obstacles of microalgae BioH₂ systems are finally addressed, allowing the technology to become more innovative and commercial.

Mixotrophic bacteria for environmental detoxification of contaminated waste and wastewater

Mixotrophic bacteria provide a desirable alternative to the use of classical heterotrophic or chemolithoautotrophic bacteria in environmental technology, particularly under limiting nutrients conditions. Their bi-modal ability of adapting to inorganic or organic carbon feed and sulfur, nitrogen, or even heavy metal stress conditions are attractive features to achieve efficient bacterial activity and favorable operation conditions for the environmental detoxification or remediation of contaminated waste and wastewater. This review provides an overview on the state of the art and summarizes the metabolic traits of the most promising and emerging non-model mixotrophic bacteria for the environmental detoxification of contaminated wastewater and waste containing excess amounts of limiting nutrients. Although mixotrophic bacteria usually function with low organic carbon sources, the unusual capabilities of mixotrophic electroactive exoelectrogens and electrotrophs in bioelectrochemical systems and in microbial electrosynthesis for accelerating simultaneous metabolism of inorganic or organic C and N, S or heavy metals are reviewed. The identification of the mixotrophic properties of electroactive bacteria and their capability to drive mono- or bidirectional electron transfer processes are highly exciting and promising aspects. These aspects provide an appealing potential for unearthing new mixotrophic exoelectrogens and electrotrophs, and thus inspire the next generation of microbial electrochemical technology and mixotrophic bacterial metabolic engineering. KEY POINTS: • Mixotrophic bacteria efficiently and simultaneously remove C and N, S or heavy metals. • Exoelectrogens and electrotrophs accelerate metabolism of C and N, S or heavy metals. • New mixotrophic exoelectrogens and electrotrophs should be discovered and exploited.

Prospects for the creation of a waste-free technology for wastewater treatment and utilization of carbon dioxide based on cyanobacteria for biodiesel production

Current fresh water and energy shortage determines the need to study the possibilities of using living objects in bioenergy and environmental purification technologies. The development of waste-free technologies allows waste recycling, which saves raw materials and energy, in turn, reducing waste generation. The effect of different carbon dioxide concentrations and wastewater from households on the growth of cyanobacteria was studied in order to determine their capabilities in the purification processes. It was found that the optimal CO₂ concentration for the cultivation of cyanobacteria Cyanobacterium sp. IPPAS B-1200 and Desertifilum sp. IPPAS B-1220 was 10 %, and for the Cyanobacterium aponinum IPPAS B-1201 - 5%. It was revealed that the cultivation of the cyanobacterium Cyanobacterium sp. IPPASB-1200 on wastewater from the water storage reduces the concentration of organic pollutants and, accordingly, improves the physicochemical properties of water. The cleaning percentage for selected pollutants was 68-100 %. It was shown that the most optimal ratio of wastewater to nutrient media for cyanobacteria cultivation were 25:75 and 50:50. The lipid content (%/dry weight) in the biomass of the studied strains of cyanobacteria ranges from 15 to 22% after cultivation in wastewater. It was determined that the strains of Cyanobacterium genus were the most suitable for the production of biodiesel according to their fatty acids composition. It was determined that lipids were composed of only saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. As a result of the studies, the optimal conditions for the growth of Cyanobacterium sp. IPPAS B-1200 were determined. This microorganism has a good potential to produce biodiesel as a producer of saturated and monounsaturated middle-chain-length fatty acids.

Reconstruction of a regulated two-cell metabolic model to study biohydrogen production in a diazotrophic cyanobacterium Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413

Anabaena variabilis is a diazotrophic filamentous cyanobacterium that differentiates to heterocysts and produces hydrogen as a byproduct. Study on metabolic interactions of the two differentiated cells provides a better understanding of its metabolism especially for improving hydrogen production. To this end, a genome-scale metabolic model for Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413, iAM957, was reconstructed and evaluated in this research. Then, the model and transcriptomic data of the vegetative and heterocyst cells were applied to construct a regulated two-cell metabolic model. The regulated model improved prediction for biomass in high radiation levels. The regulated model predicts that heterocysts provide an oxygen-free environment and then, this model was used to find strategies for improving hydrogen production in heterocysts. The predictions indicate that the removal of uptake hydrogenase improves hydrogen production which is consistent with previous empirical research. Furthermore, the regulated model proposed activation of some reactions to provide redox cofactors which are required for improving hydrogen production up to 60% by bidirectional hydrogenase.

Recent advancement and strategy on bio-hydrogen production from photosynthetic microalgae

Recently, ensuring energy security is a key challenge to political and economic strength in the world. Bio-hydrogen production from microalgae is the promising alternative source for potential renewable and self-sustainability energy but still in the initial phase of development. Practically and sustainability of microalgae hydrogen production is still debatable. The genetic engineering and metabolic pathway engineering of hydrogenase and nitrogenase play a key role to enhance hydrogen production. Microalgae have photosynthetic efficiency and synthesize huge carbohydrate biomass, used as 4th generation feedstock to generate bio-hydrogen. Recent genetically modified strains of microalgae are the attractive source for enhancing bio-hydrogen production in the future. The potential of hydrogen production from microRNAs are gaining great interest of researcher. The main objective of this review is attentive discussed recent approaches on new molecular genetics engineering and metabolic pathway developments, modern photo-bioreactors efficiency, economic assessment, limitations and knowledge gap of bio-hydrogen production from microalgae.

Effects of the Photosystem II Inhibitors CCCP and DCMU on Hydrogen Production by the Unicellular Halotolerant Cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica

The unicellular halotolerant cyanobacterium Aphanothece halophytica is a potential dark fermentative producer of molecular hydrogen (H₂) that produces very little H₂ under illumination. One factor limiting the H₂ photoproduction of this cyanobacterium is an inhibition of bidirectional hydrogenase activity by oxygen (O₂) obtained from splitting water molecules via photosystem II activity. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the photosystem II inhibitors carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) and 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) on H₂ production of A. halophytica under light and dark conditions and on photosynthetic and respiratory activities. The results showed that A. halophytica treated with CCCP and DCMU produced H₂ at three to five times the rate of untreated cells, when exposed to light. The highest H₂ photoproduction rates, 2.26 ± 0.24 and 3.63 ± 0.26  μmol H₂g⁻¹ dry weight h⁻¹, were found in cells treated with 0.5 μM CCCP and 50 μM DCMU, respectively. Without inhibitor treatment, A. halophytica incubated in the dark showed a significant increase in H₂ production compared with cells that were incubated in the light. Only CCCP treatment increased H₂ production of A. halophytica during dark incubation, because CCCP functions as an uncoupling agent of oxidative phosphorylation. The highest dark fermentative H₂ production rate of 39.50 ± 2.13  μmol H₂g⁻¹ dry weight h⁻¹ was found in cells treated with 0.5 μM CCCP after 2 h of dark incubation. Under illumination, CCCP and DCMU inhibited chlorophyll fluorescence, resulting in a low level of O₂, which promoted bidirectional hydrogenase activity in A. halophytica cells. In addition, only CCCP enhanced the respiration rate, further reducing the O₂ level. In contrast, DCMU reduced the respiration rate in A. halophytica.

Microalgal hydrogen production - A review

Bio-hydrogen from microalgae including cyanobacteria has attracted commercial awareness due to its potential as an alternative, reliable and renewable energy source. Photosynthetic hydrogen production from microalgae can be interesting and promising options for clean energy. Advances in hydrogen-fuel-cell technology may attest an eco-friendly way of biofuel production, since, the use of H₂ to generate electricity releases only water as a by-product. Progress in genetic/metabolic engineering may significantly enhance the photobiological hydrogen production from microalgae. Manipulation of competing metabolic pathways by modulating the certain key enzymes such as hydrogenase and nitrogenase may enhance the evolution of H₂ from photoautotrophic cells. Moreover, biological H₂ production at low operating costs is requisite for economic viability. Several photobioreactors have been developed for large-scale biomass and hydrogen production. This review highlights the recent technological progress, enzymes involved and genetic as well as metabolic engineering approaches towards sustainable hydrogen production from microalgae.

Investigation of the links between heterocyst and biohydrogen production by diazotrophic cyanobacterium A. variabilis ATCC 29413

This work investigates the effect of heterocyst toward biohydrogen production by A. variabilis. The heterocyst frequency was artificially promoted by adding an amino acid analog, in this case DL-7-azatryptophan into the growth medium. The frequency of heterocyst differentiation was found to be proportional to the concentration of azatryptophan (0-25 µM) in the medium. Conversely, the growth and nitrogenase activity were gradually suppressed. In addition, there was also a distinct shortening of the cells filaments and detachment of heterocyst from the vegetative cells. Analysis on the hydrogen production performance revealed that both the frequency and distribution of heterocyst in the filaments affected the rate of hydrogen production. The highest hydrogen production rate and yield (41 µmol H2 mg chl a(-1) h(-1) and 97 mL H2 mg chl a(-1), respectively) were achieved by cells previously grown in 15 µM of azatryptophan with 14.5 % of heterocyst frequency. The existence of more isolated heterocyst has been shown to cause a relative loss in nitrogenase activity thus lowering the hydrogen production rate.

Inactivation of uptake hydrogenase leads to enhanced and sustained hydrogen production with high nitrogenase activity under high light exposure in the cyanobacterium Anabaena siamensis TISTR 8012

BACKGROUND

Biohydrogen from cyanobacteria has attracted public interest due to its potential as a renewable energy carrier produced from solar energy and water. Anabaena siamensis TISTR 8012, a novel strain isolated from rice paddy field in Thailand, has been identified as a promising cyanobacterial strain for use as a high-yield hydrogen producer attributed to the activities of two enzymes, nitrogenase and bidirectional hydrogenase. One main obstacle for high hydrogen production by A. siamensis is a light-driven hydrogen consumption catalyzed by the uptake hydrogenase. To overcome this and in order to enhance the potential for nitrogenase based hydrogen production, we engineered a hydrogen uptake deficient strain by interrupting hupS encoding the small subunit of the uptake hydrogenase.

RESULTS

An engineered strain lacking a functional uptake hydrogenase (∆hupS) produced about 4-folds more hydrogen than the wild type strain. Moreover, the ∆hupS strain showed long term, sustained hydrogen production under light exposure with 2-3 folds higher nitrogenase activity compared to the wild type. In addition, HupS inactivation had no major effects on cell growth and heterocyst differentiation. Gene expression analysis using RT-PCR indicates that electrons and ATP molecules required for hydrogen production in the ∆hupS strain may be obtained from the electron transport chain associated with the photosynthetic oxidation of water in the vegetative cells. The ∆hupS strain was found to compete well with the wild type up to 50 h in a mixed culture, thereafter the wild type started to grow on the relative expense of the ∆hupS strain.

CONCLUSIONS

Inactivation of hupS is an effective strategy for improving biohydrogen production, in rates and specifically in total yield, in nitrogen-fixing cultures of the cyanobacterium Anabaena siamensis TISTR 8012.