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Redding KE, Appel J, Boehm M, Schuhmann W, Nowaczyk MM, Yacoby I, Gutekunst K. Advances and challenges in photosynthetic hydrogen production. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:1313-1325. [PMID: 35581021 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The vision to replace coal with hydrogen goes back to Jules Verne in 1874. However, sustainable hydrogen production remains challenging. The most elegant approach is to utilize photosynthesis for water splitting and to subsequently save solar energy as hydrogen. Cyanobacteria and green algae are unicellular photosynthetic organisms that contain hydrogenases and thereby possess the enzymatic equipment for photosynthetic hydrogen production. These features of cyanobacteria and algae have inspired artificial and semi-artificial in vitro techniques, that connect photoexcited materials or enzymes with hydrogenases or mimics of these for hydrogen production. These in vitro methods have on their part been models for the fusion of cyanobacterial and algal hydrogenases to photosynthetic photosystem I (PSI) in vivo, which recently succeeded as proofs of principle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin E Redding
- School of Molecular Sciences and Center for Bioenergy & Photosynthesis, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, USA
| | - Jens Appel
- Molecular Plant Physiology, Bioenergetics in Photoautotrophs, University Kassel, 34132 Kassel, Germany
| | - Marko Boehm
- Molecular Plant Physiology, Bioenergetics in Photoautotrophs, University Kassel, 34132 Kassel, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Schuhmann
- Analytical Chemistry - Center for Electrochemical Sciences (CES), Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Marc M Nowaczyk
- Plant Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, D-44780 Bochum, Germany
| | - Iftach Yacoby
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Kirstin Gutekunst
- Molecular Plant Physiology, Bioenergetics in Photoautotrophs, University Kassel, 34132 Kassel, Germany.
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Nagy V, Podmaniczki A, Vidal-Meireles A, Kuntam S, Herman É, Kovács L, Tóth D, Scoma A, Tóth SZ. Thin cell layer cultures of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii L159I-N230Y, pgrl1 and pgr5 mutants perform enhanced hydrogen production at sunlight intensity. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 333:125217. [PMID: 33951580 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Photobiological hydrogen (H2) production is a promising renewable energy source. HydA hydrogenases of green algae are efficient but O2-sensitive and compete for electrons with CO2-fixation. Recently, we established a photoautotrophic H2 production system based on anaerobic induction, where the Calvin-Benson cycle is inactive and O2 scavenged by an absorbent. Here, we employed thin layer cultures, resulting in a three-fold increase in H2 production relative to bulk CC-124 cultures (50 µg chlorophyll/ml, 350 µmol photons m-2 s-1). Productivity was maintained when increasing the light intensity to 1000 µmol photons m-2s-1 and the cell density to 150 µg chlorophyll/ml. Remarkably, the L159I-N230Y photosystem II mutant and the pgrl1 photosystem I cyclic electron transport mutant produced 50% more H2 than CC-124, while the pgr5 mutant generated 250% more (1.2 ml H2/ml culture in six days). The photosynthetic apparatus of the pgr5 mutant and its in vitro HydA activity remained remarkably stable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Nagy
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anna Podmaniczki
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; Doctoral School of Biology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - André Vidal-Meireles
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Soujanya Kuntam
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Éva Herman
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Kovács
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Dávid Tóth
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary; Doctoral School of Biology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6722 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Alberto Scoma
- Engineered Microbial Systems Laboratory (EMS-Lab), Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Aarhus University, Hangøvej 2, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Szilvia Z Tóth
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726 Szeged, Hungary.
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Abstract
The need to safeguard our planet by reducing carbon dioxide emissions has led to a significant development of research in the field of alternative energy sources. Hydrogen has proved to be the most promising molecule, as a fuel, due to its low environmental impact. Even if various methods already exist for producing hydrogen, most of them are not sustainable. Thus, research focuses on the biological sector, studying microalgae, and other microorganisms’ ability to produce this precious molecule in a natural way. In this review, we provide a description of the biochemical and molecular processes for the production of biohydrogen and give a general overview of one of the most interesting technologies in which hydrogen finds application for electricity production: fuel cells.
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Petrova EV, Kukarskikh GP, Krendeleva TE, Antal TK. The Mechanisms and Role of Photosynthetic Hydrogen Production by Green Microalgae. Microbiology (Reading) 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026261720030169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Algae-Bacteria Consortia as a Strategy to Enhance H 2 Production. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061353. [PMID: 32486026 PMCID: PMC7348838 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological hydrogen production by microalgae is a potential sustainable, renewable and clean source of energy. However, many barriers limiting photohydrogen production in these microorganisms remain unsolved. In order to explore this potential and make biohydrogen industrially affordable, the unicellular microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is used as a model system to solve barriers and identify new approaches that can improve hydrogen production. Recently, Chlamydomonas–bacteria consortia have opened a new window to improve biohydrogen production. In this study, we review the different consortia that have been successfully employed and analyze the factors that could be behind the improved H2 production.
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Fakhimi N, Dubini A, Tavakoli O, González-Ballester D. Acetic acid is key for synergetic hydrogen production in Chlamydomonas-bacteria co-cultures. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 289:121648. [PMID: 31247525 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 06/11/2019] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This study is a proof of concept for the synergetic biohydrogen production in alga-bacteria co-cultures. Algal hydrogen photoproduction was obtained in sugar-containing media only when the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was co-cultured with Pseudomonas putida (40.8 ml H2·L-1), Escherichia coli (35.1 ml H2·L-1) and Rhizobium etli (16.1 ml H2·L-1). Hydrogen photo-production in these co-cultures was not only linked to the induction of hypoxia, but to the ability of the bacteria to produce acetic acid from sugars. Synergetic hydrogen production was achieved by integrating the photobiological and fermentative production in Chlamydomonas and Escherichia coli co-cultures supplemented with glucose, which resulted in 60% more H2 production than the sum of the respective monocultures. This cooperation relied on the ability of the alga to consume the excreted bacterial acetic acid, which benefited both bacterial and algal hydrogen production. This knowledge may open new possibilities for the biohydrogen production from industrial wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neda Fakhimi
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Alexandra Dubini
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
| | - Omid Tavakoli
- School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran.
| | - David González-Ballester
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
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Gould SB, Garg SG, Handrich M, Nelson-Sathi S, Gruenheit N, Tielens AGM, Martin WF. Adaptation to life on land at high O 2 via transition from ferredoxin-to NADH-dependent redox balance. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191491. [PMID: 31431166 PMCID: PMC6732389 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyruvate : ferredoxin oxidoreductase (PFO) and iron only hydrogenase ([Fe]-HYD) are common enzymes among eukaryotic microbes that inhabit anaerobic niches. Their function is to maintain redox balance by donating electrons from food oxidation via ferredoxin (Fd) to protons, generating H2 as a waste product. Operating in series, they constitute a soluble electron transport chain of one-electron transfers between FeS clusters. They fulfil the same function—redox balance—served by two electron-transfers in the NADH- and O2-dependent respiratory chains of mitochondria. Although they possess O2-sensitive FeS clusters, PFO, Fd and [Fe]-HYD are also present among numerous algae that produce O2. The evolutionary persistence of these enzymes among eukaryotic aerobes is traditionally explained as adaptation to facultative anaerobic growth. Here, we show that algae express enzymes of anaerobic energy metabolism at ambient O2 levels (21% v/v), Chlamydomonas reinhardtii expresses them with diurnal regulation. High O2 environments arose on Earth only approximately 450 million years ago. Gene presence/absence and gene expression data indicate that during the transition to high O2 environments and terrestrialization, diverse algal lineages retained enzymes of Fd-dependent one-electron-based redox balance, while the land plant and land animal lineages underwent irreversible specialization to redox balance involving the O2-insensitive two-electron carrier NADH.
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Affiliation(s)
- S B Gould
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - S G Garg
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - M Handrich
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - S Nelson-Sathi
- Interdisciplinary Biology, Computational Biology Laboratory, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - N Gruenheit
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - A G M Tielens
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - W F Martin
- Institute for Molecular Evolution, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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Nagy V, Podmaniczki A, Vidal-Meireles A, Tengölics R, Kovács L, Rákhely G, Scoma A, Tóth SZ. Water-splitting-based, sustainable and efficient H 2 production in green algae as achieved by substrate limitation of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:69. [PMID: 29560024 PMCID: PMC5858145 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1069-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photobiological H2 production has the potential of becoming a carbon-free renewable energy source, because upon the combustion of H2, only water is produced. The [Fe-Fe]-type hydrogenases of green algae are highly active, although extremely O2-sensitive. Sulphur deprivation is a common way to induce H2 production, which, however, relies substantially on organic substrates and imposes a severe stress effect resulting in the degradation of the photosynthetic apparatus. RESULTS We report on the establishment of an alternative H2 production method by green algae that is based on a short anaerobic induction, keeping the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle inactive by substrate limitation and preserving hydrogenase activity by applying a simple catalyst to remove the evolved O2. Cultures remain photosynthetically active for several days, with the electrons feeding the hydrogenases mostly derived from water. The amount of H2 produced is higher as compared to the sulphur-deprivation procedure and the process is photoautotrophic. CONCLUSION Our protocol demonstrates that it is possible to sustainably use algal cells as whole-cell catalysts for H2 production, which enables industrial application of algal biohydrogen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Nagy
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Anna Podmaniczki
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - André Vidal-Meireles
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Roland Tengölics
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Kovács
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Rákhely
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Alberto Scoma
- Center for Geomicrobiology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Szilvia Z. Tóth
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary
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Evaluation of light energy to H 2 energy conversion efficiency in thin films of cyanobacteria and green alga under photoautotrophic conditions. ALGAL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2017.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Scoma A, Hemschemeier A. The hydrogen metabolism of sulfur deprived Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells involves hydrogen uptake activities. ALGAL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2017.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Venkanna D, Südfeld C, Baier T, Homburg SV, Patel AV, Wobbe L, Kruse O. Knock-Down of the IFR1 Protein Perturbs the Homeostasis of Reactive Electrophile Species and Boosts Photosynthetic Hydrogen Production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2017; 8:1347. [PMID: 28824682 PMCID: PMC5540887 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The protein superfamily of short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases (SDR), including members of the atypical type (aSDR), covers a huge range of catalyzed reactions and in vivo substrates. This superfamily also comprises isoflavone reductase-like (IRL) proteins, which are aSDRs highly homologous to isoflavone reductases from leguminous plants. The molecular function of IRLs in non-leguminous plants and green microalgae has not been identified as yet, but several lines of evidence point at their implication in reactive oxygen species homeostasis. The Chlamydomonas reinhardtii IRL protein IFR1 was identified in a previous study, analyzing the transcriptomic changes occurring during the acclimation to sulfur deprivation and anaerobiosis, a condition that triggers photobiological hydrogen production in this microalgae. Accumulation of the cytosolic IFR1 protein is induced by sulfur limitation as well as by the exposure of C. reinhardtii cells to reactive electrophile species (RES) such as reactive carbonyls. The latter has not been described for IRL proteins before. Over-accumulation of IFR1 in the singlet oxygen response 1 (sor1) mutant together with the presence of an electrophile response element, known to be required for SOR1-dependent gene activation as a response to RES, in the promoter of IFR1, indicate that IFR1 expression is controlled by the SOR1-dependent pathway. An implication of IFR1 into RES homeostasis, is further implied by a knock-down of IFR1, which results in a diminished tolerance toward RES. Intriguingly, IFR1 knock-down has a positive effect on photosystem II (PSII) stability under sulfur-deprived conditions used to trigger photobiological hydrogen production, by reducing PSII-dependent oxygen evolution, in C. reinhardtii. Reduced PSII photoinhibition in IFR1 knock-down strains prolongs the hydrogen production phase resulting in an almost doubled final hydrogen yield compared to the parental strain. Finally, IFR1 knock-down could be successfully used to further increase hydrogen yields of the high hydrogen-producing mutant stm6, demonstrating that IFR1 is a promising target for genetic engineering approaches aiming at an increased hydrogen production capacity of C. reinhardtii cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Venkanna
- Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
| | - Christian Südfeld
- Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Baier
- Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
| | - Sarah V. Homburg
- Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Fermentation and Formulation of Biologicals and Chemicals, Bielefeld University of Applied SciencesBielefeld, Germany
| | - Anant V. Patel
- Faculty of Engineering and Mathematics, Fermentation and Formulation of Biologicals and Chemicals, Bielefeld University of Applied SciencesBielefeld, Germany
| | - Lutz Wobbe
- Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
| | - Olaf Kruse
- Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld UniversityBielefeld, Germany
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González-Ballester D, Jurado-Oller JL, Galván A, Fernández E, Dubini A. H 2 production pathways in nutrient-replete mixotrophic Chlamydomonas cultures under low light. Response to the commentary article "On the pathways feeding the H 2 production process in nutrient-replete, hypoxic conditions," by Alberto Scoma and Szilvia Z. Tóth. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:117. [PMID: 28484517 PMCID: PMC5420093 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0801-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A recent Commentary article entitled "On the pathways feeding the H2 production process in nutrient-replete, hypoxic conditions" by Dr. Scoma and Dr. Tóth, Biotechnology for Biofuels (2017), opened a very interesting debate about the H2 production photosynthetic-linked pathways occurring in Chlamydomonas cultures grown in acetate-containing media and incubated under hypoxia/anoxia conditions. This Commentary article mainly focused on the results of our previous article "Low oxygen levels contribute to improve photohydrogen production in mixotrophic non-stressed Chlamydomonas cultures," by Jurado-Oller et al., Biotechnology for Biofuels (7, 2015; 8:149). MAIN BODY Here, we review some previous knowledge about the H2 production pathways linked to photosynthesis in Chlamydomonas, especially focusing on the role of the PSII-dependent and -independent pathways in acetate-containing nutrient-replete cultures. The potential contributions of these pathways to H2 production under anoxia/hypoxia are discussed. CONCLUSION Despite the fact that the PSII inhibitor DCMU is broadly used to discern between the two different photosynthetic pathways operating under H2 production conditions, its use may lead to distinctive conclusions depending on the growth conditions. The different potential sources of reductive power needed for the PSII-independent H2 production in mixotrophic nutrient-replete cultures are a matter of debate and conclusive evidences are still missing.
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Affiliation(s)
- David González-Ballester
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Jurado-Oller
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Aurora Galván
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Emilio Fernández
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Alexandra Dubini
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edif. Severo Ochoa, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
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Scoma A, Tóth SZ. On the pathways feeding the H 2 production process in nutrient-replete, hypoxic conditions. Commentary on the article "Low oxygen levels contribute to improve photohydrogen production in mixotrophic non-stressed Chlamydomonas cultures", by Jurado-Oller et al., Biotechnology for Biofuels, published September 7, 2015; 8:149. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:116. [PMID: 28484516 PMCID: PMC5418857 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0800-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 04/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Under low O2 concentration (hypoxia) and low light, Chlamydomonas cells can produce H2 gas in nutrient-replete conditions. This process is hindered by the presence of O2, which inactivates the [FeFe]-hydrogenase enzyme responsible for H2 gas production shifting algal cultures back to normal growth. The main pathways accounting for H2 production in hypoxia are not entirely understood, as much as culture conditions setting the optimal redox state in the chloroplast supporting long-lasting H2 production. The reducing power for H2 production can be provided by photosystem II (PSII) and photofermentative processes during which proteins are degraded via yet unknown pathways. In hetero- or mixotrophic conditions, acetate respiration was proposed to indirectly contribute to H2 evolution, although this pathway has not been described in detail. MAIN BODY Recently, Jurado-Oller et al. (Biotechnol Biofuels 8: 149, 7) proposed that acetate respiration may substantially support H2 production in nutrient-replete hypoxic conditions. Addition of low amounts of O2 enhanced acetate respiration rate, particularly in the light, resulting in improved H2 production. The authors surmised that acetate oxidation through the glyoxylate pathway generates intermediates such as succinate and malate, which would be in turn oxidized in the chloroplast generating FADH2 and NADH. The latter would enter a PSII-independent pathway at the level of the plastoquinone pool, consistent with the light dependence of H2 production. The authors concluded that the water-splitting activity of PSII has a minor role in H2 evolution in nutrient-replete, mixotrophic cultures under hypoxia. However, their results with the PSII inhibitor DCMU also reveal that O2 or acetate additions promoted acetate respiration over the usually dominant PSII-dependent pathway. The more oxidized state experienced by these cultures in combination with the relatively short experimental time prevented acclimation to hypoxia, thus precluding the PSII-dependent pathway from contributing to H2 production. CONCLUSIONS In Chlamydomonas, continuous H2 gas evolution is expected once low O2 partial pressure and optimal reducing conditions are set. Under nutrient-replete conditions, the electrogenic processes involved in H2 photoproduction may rely on various electron transport pathways. Understanding how physiological conditions select for specific metabolic routes is key to achieve economic viability of this renewable energy source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Scoma
- Center for Microbial Ecology and Technology (CMET), Faculty of Bioengineering, University of Gent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Geomicrobiology, Aarhus University, Ny Munkegade 116, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Szilvia Z. Tóth
- Biological Research Centre Szeged, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Temesvári krt. 62, Szeged, 6726 Hungary
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Nagy V, Vidal-Meireles A, Tengölics R, Rákhely G, Garab G, Kovács L, Tóth SZ. Ascorbate accumulation during sulphur deprivation and its effects on photosystem II activity and H2 production of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2016; 39:1460-72. [PMID: 26714836 DOI: 10.1111/pce.12701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In nature, H2 production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii serves as a safety valve during the induction of photosynthesis in anoxia, and it prevents the over-reduction of the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Sulphur deprivation of C. reinhardtii also triggers a complex metabolic response resulting in the induction of various stress-related genes, down-regulation of photosynthesis, the establishment of anaerobiosis and expression of active hydrogenase. Photosystem II (PSII) plays dual role in H2 production because it supplies electrons but the evolved O2 inhibits the hydrogenase. Here, we show that upon sulphur deprivation, the ascorbate content in C. reinhardtii increases about 50-fold, reaching the mM range; at this concentration, ascorbate inactivates the Mn-cluster of PSII, and afterwards, it can donate electrons to tyrozin Z(+) at a slow rate. This stage is followed by donor-side-induced photoinhibition, leading to the loss of charge separation activity in PSII and reaction centre degradation. The time point at which maximum ascorbate concentration is reached in the cell is critical for the establishment of anaerobiosis and initiation of H2 production. We also show that ascorbate influenced H2 evolution via altering the photosynthetic electron transport rather than hydrogenase activity and starch degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Nagy
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - André Vidal-Meireles
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Roland Tengölics
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Gábor Rákhely
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, Közép fasor 52, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Győző Garab
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - László Kovács
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Szilvia Z Tóth
- Institute of Plant Biology, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Temesvári krt. 62, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary
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16
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Muzziotti D, Adessi A, Faraloni C, Torzillo G, De Philippis R. H2 production in Rhodopseudomonas palustris as a way to cope with high light intensities. Res Microbiol 2016; 167:350-6. [PMID: 26916624 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Revised: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The ability of coping with the damaging effects of high light intensity represents an essential issue when purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB) are grown under direct sunlight for photobiological hydrogen production. This study was aimed at investigating whether H2 photo-evolution could represent, for Rhodopseudomonas palustris 42OL, a safety valve to dissipate an excess of reducing power generated under high light intensities. The physiological status of this strain was assessed under anaerobic (AnG) and aerobic (AG) growing conditions and under H2-producing (HP) conditions at low and high light intensities. The results obtained clearly showed that Fv/Fm ratio was significantly affected by the light intensity under which R. palustris 42OL cells were grown, under either AnG or AG conditions, while, under HP, it constantly remained at its highest value. The increase in light intensity significantly increased the H2 production rate, which showed a positive correlation with the maximum electron transfer rate (rETRmax). These findings are important for optimization of hydrogen production by PNSB under solar light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dayana Muzziotti
- Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Piazzale Delle Cascine 24, I 50144, Florence, Italy.
| | - Alessandra Adessi
- Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Piazzale Delle Cascine 24, I 50144, Florence, Italy; Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (ICCOM), CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Cecilia Faraloni
- Institute of Ecosystem Study (ISE), CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Torzillo
- Institute of Ecosystem Study (ISE), CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Roberto De Philippis
- Department of Agrifood Production and Environmental Sciences, University of Florence, Piazzale Delle Cascine 24, I 50144, Florence, Italy; Institute of Chemistry of Organometallic Compounds (ICCOM), CNR, Via Madonna del Piano, 10, 50019, Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
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17
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Antal TK, Krendeleva TE, Tyystjärvi E. Multiple regulatory mechanisms in the chloroplast of green algae: relation to hydrogen production. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2015; 125:357-81. [PMID: 25986411 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-015-0157-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
A complex regulatory network in the chloroplast of green algae provides an efficient tool for maintenance of energy and redox balance in the cell under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. In this review, we discuss the structural and functional organizations of electron transport pathways in the chloroplast, and regulation of photosynthesis in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. The focus is on the regulatory mechanisms induced in response to nutrient deficiency stress and anoxia and especially on the role of a hydrogenase-mediated reaction in adaptation to highly reducing conditions and ATP deficiency in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taras K Antal
- Faculty of Biology, Moscow State University, Vorobyevi Gory, Moscow, 119992, Russia,
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