Encapsulation of Photosystem I in Organic Microparticles Increases Its Photochemical Activity and Stability for Ex Vivo Photocatalysis

The influence of cationic antiseptics on the processes of light energy conversion in various photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes

The widespread use of disinfectants and antiseptics, and consequently their release into the environment, determines the relevance of studying their potential impact on the main producers of organic matter on the planet-photosynthetic organisms. The review examines the effects of some biguanides and quaternary ammonium compounds, octenidine, miramistin, chlorhexidine, and picloxidine, on the functioning of the photosynthetic apparatus of various organisms (Strakhovskaya et al. in Photosynth Res 147:197-209, 2021; Knox et al. in Photosynth Res 153:103, 2022; Paschenko et al. in Photosynth Res 155:93-105, 2023a, Photosynth Res 2023b). A common feature of these antiseptics is the combination of hydrophobic and hydrophilic regions in the molecules, the latter carrying a positive charge(s). The comparison of the results obtained with intact bacterial membrane vesicles (chromatophores) and purified pigment-protein complexes (photosystem II and I) of oxygenic organisms allows us to draw conclusions about the mechanisms of the cationic antiseptic action on the functional properties of the components of the photosynthetic apparatus.

Effect of cationic antiseptics on fluorescent characteristics and electron transfer in cyanobacterial photosystem I complexes

In this study, the effects of cationic antiseptics such as chlorhexidine, picloxidine, miramistin, and octenidine at concentrations up to 150 µM on fluorescence spectra and its lifetimes, as well as on light-induced electron transfer in protein-pigment complexes of photosystem I (PSI) isolated from cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 have been studied. In doing so, octenidine turned out to be the most "effective" in terms of its influence on the spectral and functional characteristics of PSI complexes. It has been shown that the rate of energy migration from short-wavelength forms of light-harvesting chlorophyll to long-wavelength ones slows down upon addition of octenidine to the PSI suspension. After photo-separation of charges between the primary electron donor P700 and the terminal iron-sulfur center(s) FA/FB, the rate of forward electron transfer from (FA/FB)- to the external medium slows down while the rate of charge recombination between reduced FA/FB- and photooxidized P700+ increases. The paper considers the possible causes of the observed action of the antiseptic.

Observation of anomalous carotenoid and blind chlorophyll activations in photosystem I under synthetic membrane confinements

The role of natural thylakoid membrane confinements in architecting the robust structural and electrochemical properties of PSI is not fully understood. Most PSI studies till date extract the proteins from their natural confinements that can lead to non-native conformations. Recently our group had successfully reconstituted PSI in synthetic lipid membranes using detergent-mediated liposome solubilizations. In this study, we investigate the alterations in chlorophylls and carotenoids interactions and reorganization in PSI based on spectral property changes induced by its confinement in anionic DPhPG and zwitterionic DPhPC phospholipid membranes. To this end, we employ a combination of absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic measurements. Our results indicate unique activation and alteration of photoresponses from the PSI carotenoid (Car) bands in PSI-DPhPG proteoliposomes that can tune the Excitation Energy Transfer (EET), otherwise absent in PSI at non-native environments. Specifically, we observe broadband light harvesting via enhanced absorption in the otherwise non-absorptive green region (500-580 nm) of the Chlorophylls (Chl) along with ~64% increase in the full-width half maximum of the Qy band (650-720 nm). The CD results indicate enhanced Chl-Chl and Chl-Car interactions along with conformational changes in protein secondary structures. Such distinct changes in the Car and Chl bands are not observed in PSI confined in DPhPC. The fundamental insights into membrane microenvironments tailoring PSI subunits reorganization and interactions provide novel strategies for tuning photoexcitation processes and rational designing of biotic-abiotic interfaces in PSI-based photoelectrochemical energy conversion systems.

Photosystem I integrated into mesoporous microspheres has enhanced stability and photoactivity in biohybrid solar cells

Isolated proteins, especially membrane proteins, are susceptible to aggregation and activity loss after purification. For therapeutics and biosensors usage, protein stability and longevity are especially important. It has been demonstrated that photosystem I (PSI) can be successfully integrated into biohybrid electronic devices to take advantage of its strong light-driven reducing potential (-1.2V vs. the Standard Hydrogen Electrode). Most devices utilize PSI isolated in a nanosize detergent micelle, which is difficult to visualize, quantitate, and manipulate. Isolated PSI is also susceptible to aggregation and/or loss of activity, especially after freeze/thaw cycles. CaCO3 microspheres (CCMs) have been shown to be a robust method of protein encapsulation for industrial and pharmaceutical applications, increasing the stability and activity of the encapsulated protein. However, CCMs have not been utilized with any membrane protein(s) to date. Herein, we examine the encapsulation of detergent-solubilized PSI in CCMs yielding uniform, monodisperse, mesoporous microspheres. This study reports both the first encapsulation of a membrane protein and also the largest protein to date stabilized by CCMs. These microspheres retain their spectral properties and lumenal surface exposure and are active when integrated into hybrid biophotovoltaic devices. CCMs may be a robust yet simple solution for long-term storage of large membrane proteins, showing success for very large, multisubunit complexes like PSI.

Improving the Cellular Uptake of Biomimetic Magnetic Nanoparticles

Magnetococcus marinus magnetosome-associated protein MamC, expressed as recombinant, has been proven to mediate the formation of novel biomimetic magnetic nanoparticles (BMNPs) that are successful drug nanocarriers for targeted chemotherapy and hyperthermia agents. These BMNPs present several advantages over inorganic magnetic nanoparticles, such as larger sizes that allow the former to have larger magnetic moment per particle, and an isoelectric point at acidic pH values, which allows both the stable functionalization of BMNPs at physiological pH value and the molecule release at acidic (tumor) environments, simply based on electrostatic interactions. However, difficulties for BMNPs cell internalization still hold back the efficiency of these nanoparticles as drug nanocarriers and hyperthermia agents. In the present study we explore the enhanced BMNPs internalization following upon their encapsulation by poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA), a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved molecule. Internalization is further optimized by the functionalization of the nanoformulation with the cell-penetrating TAT peptide (TATp). Our results evidence that cells treated with the nanoformulation [TAT-PLGA(BMNPs)] show up to 80% more iron internalized (after 72 h) compared to that of cells treated with BMNPs (40%), without any significant decrease in cell viability. This nanoformulation showing optimal internalization is further characterized. In particular, the present manuscript demonstrates that neither its magnetic properties nor its performance as a hyperthermia agent are significantly altered due to the encapsulation. In vitro experiments demonstrate that, following upon the application of an alternating magnetic field on U87MG cells treated with BMNPs and TAT-PLGA(BMNPs), the cytotoxic effect of BMNPs was not affected by the TAT-PLGA enveloping. Based on that, difficulties shown in previous studies related to poor cell uptake of BMNPs can be overcome by the novel nanoassembly described here.

A new platform for development of photosystem I based thin films with superior photocurrent: TCNQ charge transfer salts derived from ZIF-8

The transmembrane photosynthetic protein complex Photosystem I (PSI) is highly sought after for incorporation into biohybrid photovoltaic devices due to its remarkable photoactive electrochemical properties, chiefly driving charge separation with ∼1 V potential and ∼100% quantum efficiency. In pursuit of these integrated technologies, three factors must be simultaneously tuned, namely, direct redox transfer steps, three-dimensional coordination and stabilization of PSI aggregates, and interfacial connectivity with conductive pathways. Building on our recent successful encapsulation of PSI in the metal-organic framework ZIF-8, herein we use the zinc and imidazole cations from this precursor to form charge transfer complexes with an extremely strong organic electron acceptor, TCNQ. Specifically, the PSI-Zn-H2mim-TCNQ charge transfer salt complex was drop cast on ITO to form dense films. Subsequent voltammetric cycling induced cation exchange and electrochemical annealing of the film was used to enhance electron conductivity giving rise to a photocurrent in the order of 15 μA cm-2. This study paves the way for a myriad of future opportunities for successful integration of this unique class of charge transfer salt complexes with biological catalysts and light harvesters.

Putting Photosystem I to Work: Truly Green Energy

Meeting growing energy demands sustainably is one of the greatest challenges facing the world. The sun strikes the Earth with sufficient energy in 1.5 h to meet annual world energy demands, likely making solar energy conversion part of future sustainable energy production plans. Photosynthetic organisms have been evolving solar energy utilization strategies for nearly 3.5 billion years, making reaction centers including the remarkably stable Photosystem I (PSI) especially interesting for biophotovoltaic device integration. Although these biohybrid devices have steadily improved, their output remains low compared with traditional photovoltaics. We discuss strategies and methods to improve PSI-based biophotovoltaics, focusing on PSI-surface interaction enhancement, electrolytes, and light-harvesting enhancement capabilities. Desirable features and current drawbacks to PSI-based devices are also discussed.