Combo chloro-photosynthetic device and applications for greenhouse gas reduction campaign and smart agriculture

The increasing carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the air pose a direct threat to all living organisms and the environment. Leveraging the ability of plants to absorb CO2 is one of the most effective methods for countering these rising CO2 levels. The present study aimes to develop a combo photosynthetic and chlorophyll-a sensor based on Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) spectroscopy and an optical method. This sensor enables simultaneous, intensive measurement of net photosynthesis and chlorophyll-a content and yields accurate information. Comparative analysis of the efficacy of the sensors to that of a commercial instrument demonstrated that the measurement values obtained from the developed photosynthetic and chlorophyll-a sensors were not significantly different from those acquired with the commercial instrument (portable photosynthesis system LI-6400) and chlorophyll metre (SPAD-502), with a 95 % confidence level. Furthermore, the developed photosynthetic sensor could be used as a new correlation unit for chlorophyll-a content and net photosynthesis. Therefore, the sensor can be used to propose effective plantation processes to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels and in smart farming systems to control the quality of yields.

Crystallographic and biochemical analyses of a far-red allophycocyanin to address the mechanism of the super-red-shift

Far-red absorbing allophycocyanins (APC), identified in cyanobacteria capable of FRL photoacclimation (FaRLiP) and low-light photoacclimation (LoLiP), absorb far-red light, functioning in energy transfer as light-harvesting proteins. We report an optimized method to obtain high purity far-red absorbing allophycocyanin B, AP-B2, of Chroococcidiopsis thermalis sp. PCC7203 by synthesis in Escherichia coli and an improved purification protocol. The crystal structure of the trimer, (PCB-ApcD5/PCB-ApcB2)3, has been resolved to 2.8 Å. The main difference to conventional APCs absorbing in the 650-670 nm range is a largely flat chromophore with the co-planarity extending, in particular, from rings BCD to ring A. This effectively extends the conjugation system of PCB and contributes to the super-red-shifted absorption of the α-subunit (λmax = 697 nm). On complexation with the β-subunit, it is even further red-shifted (λmax, absorption = 707 nm, λmax, emission = 721 nm). The relevance of ring A for this shift is supported by mutagenesis data. A variant of the α-subunit, I123M, has been generated that shows an intense FR-band already in the absence of the β-subunit, a possible model is discussed. Two additional mechanisms are known to red-shift the chromophore spectrum: lactam-lactim tautomerism and deprotonation of the chromophore that both mechanisms appear inconsistent with our data, leaving this question unresolved.

Chlorophyll f can replace chlorophyll a in the soluble antenna of dinoflagellates

Chlorophyll f is a new type of chlorophyll isolated from cyanobacteria. The absorption and fluorescence characteristics of chlorophyll f permit these oxygenic-photosynthetic organisms to thrive in environments where white light is scarce but far-red light is abundant. To explore the ligand properties of chlorophyll f and its energy transfer profiles we established two different in vitro reconstitution systems. The reconstituted peridinin-chlorophyll f protein complex (chlorophyll f-PCP) showed a stoichiometry ratio of 4:1 between peridinin and chlorophyll f, consistent with the peridinin:chlorophyll a ratio from native PCP complexes. Using emission wavelength at 712 nm, the excitation fluorescence featured a broad peak at 453 nm and a shoulder at 511 nm confirming energy transfer from peridinin to chlorophyll f. In addition, by using a synthetic peptide mimicking the first transmembrane helix of light-harvesting chlorophyll proteins of plants, we report that chlorophyll f, similarly to chlorophyll b, did not interact with the peptide contrarily to chlorophyll a, confirming the accessory role of chlorophyll f in photosystems. The binding of chlorophyll f, even in the presence of chlorophylls a and b, by PCP complexes shows the flexibility of chlorophyll-protein complexes and provides an opportunity for the introduction of new chlorophyll species to extend the photosynthetic spectral range.

Absorption and Fluorescence Spectral Database of Chlorophylls and Analogues

Absorption spectra and fluorescence spectra are essential for use across the photosciences, yet such spectra along with the all-important values for molar absorption coefficient (ε) and fluorescence quantum yield (Φ_f ) often are found with great difficulty. Here, a literature survey concerning the vital class of chlorophyll compounds has led to identification of spectra for 150 members. Spectra in print form have been digitized (with baseline corrections) and assembled into a database along with literature references, solvent identity and values for ε and Φ_f (where available). The database encompasses photosynthetic tetrapyrroles wherein the chromophore is a porphyrin (e.g. chlorophyll c₁ , protochlorophyll a), chlorin (e.g. chlorophyll a, bacteriochlorophyll c) or bacteriochlorin (e.g. bacteriochlorophyll a). Altogether, the database contains 305 absorption spectra (from 19 porphyrins, 109 chlorins and 22 bacteriochlorins) and 72 fluorescence spectra (from 10 porphyrins, 30 chlorins and 4 bacteriochlorins). The spectral database should facilitate comparisons and quantitative calculations. All spectra are available in print form in the Supporting Information. The entire database in digital form is available with the PhotochemCAD program for free downloading and further use at http://www.photochemcad.com.

Recent Advances in Porphyrin-Based Inorganic Nanoparticles for Cancer Treatment

The application of porphyrins and their derivatives have been investigated extensively over the past years for phototherapy cancer treatment. Phototherapeutic Porphyrins have the ability to generate high levels of reactive oxygen with a low dark toxicity and these properties have made them robust photosensitizing agents. In recent years, Porphyrins have been combined with various nanomaterials in order to improve their bio-distribution. These combinations allow for nanoparticles to enhance photodynamic therapy (PDT) cancer treatment and adding additional nanotheranostics (photothermal therapy-PTT) as well as enhance photodiagnosis (PDD) to the reaction. This review examines various porphyrin-based inorganic nanoparticles developed for phototherapy nanotheranostic cancer treatment over the last three years (2017 to 2020). Furthermore, current challenges in the development and future perspectives of porphyrin-based nanomedicines for cancer treatment are also highlighted.

Advances in nanomaterials for use in photothermal and photodynamic therapeutics (Review)

Nanomaterials play crucial roles in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Photothermal and photodynamic therapy, as two minimally invasive therapeutic methods, have promising potential in the diagnosis and prevention of cancer. Recently, many photothermal materials (such as noble metal material, transition metal sulfur oxides, carbon material and upconversion nanomaterial) and photodynamic materials (such as phthalein cyanogen, porphyrins and other dye molecules) have been applied in photothermal therapy (PTT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Moreover, as nanomaterials have suitable biocompatibility, these materials have been applied in cancer therapy. In the present review, we summarized the effects of different material types, synthesis methods, material morphologies and surface modifications on the outcomes of cancer therapy. The application of nanomaterials in PTT and PDT was introduced and the advantages and disadvantages of PTT and PDT in the prevention of cancer were discussed. Finally, we discussed the application of nanomaterials in the combination of PTT and PDT in cancer treatment.

Genome and proteome of the chlorophyll f-producing cyanobacterium Halomicronema hongdechloris: adaptative proteomic shifts under different light conditions

Background

Halomicronema hongdechloris was the first cyanobacterium to be identified that produces chlorophyll (Chl) f. It contains Chl a and uses phycobiliproteins as its major light-harvesting components under white light conditions. However, under far-red light conditions H. hongdechloris produces Chl f and red-shifted phycobiliprotein complexes to absorb and use far-red light. In this study, we report the genomic sequence of H. hongdechloris and use quantitative proteomic approaches to confirm the deduced metabolic pathways as well as metabolic and photosynthetic changes in response to different photo-autotrophic conditions.

Results

The whole genome of H. hongdechloris was sequenced using three different technologies and assembled into a single circular scaffold with a genome size of 5,577,845 bp. The assembled genome has 54.6% GC content and encodes 5273 proteins covering 83.5% of the DNA sequence. Using Tandem Mass Tag labelling, the total proteome of H. hongdechloris grown under different light conditions was analyzed. A total of 1816 proteins were identified, with photosynthetic proteins accounting for 24% of the total mass spectral readings, of which 35% are phycobiliproteins. The proteomic data showed that essential cellular metabolic reactions remain unchanged under shifted light conditions. The largest differences in protein content between white and far-red light conditions reflect the changes to photosynthetic complexes, shifting from a standard phycobilisome and Chl a-based light harvesting system under white light, to modified, red-shifted phycobilisomes and Chl f-containing photosystems under far-red light conditions.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that essential cellular metabolic reactions under different light conditions remain constant, including most of the enzymes in chlorophyll biosynthesis and photosynthetic carbon fixation. The changed light conditions cause significant changes in the make-up of photosynthetic protein complexes to improve photosynthetic light capture and reaction efficiencies. The integration of the global proteome with the genome sequence highlights that cyanobacterial adaptation strategies are focused on optimizing light capture and utilization, with minimal changes in other metabolic pathways. Our quantitative proteomic approach has enabled a deeper understanding of both the stability and the flexibility of cellular metabolic networks of H. hongdechloris in response to changes in its environment.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-019-5587-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Synthesis and physico-chemical properties of a H-cardanol triazole zinc porphyrin conjugate

Although a large number of natural and non-natural metalloporphyrins are known, examples with fluorescence and fat-soluble properties are rare. We have achieved the synthesis of a fluorescent and fat-soluble zinc porphyrin incorporating four units of hydrogenated cardanol (H-cardanol). The synthesis is sustainable since the product is derived from cashew-nut shell liquid (CNSL), which is a renewable and bio-waste material. The H-cardanol triazole zinc porphyrin conjugate (HTZPC) was synthesized through applying a copper(i) catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC) reaction between a H-cardanol derived azide and a tetraarylporphyrin derived alkyne. The absorption and emission properties of the hydrocarbon solvent soluble HTZPC were evaluated using UV-vis and fluorescence emission spectra obtained in various solvents. The results were compared with related molecules like a triazole-zinc porphyrin conjugate (TZPC), zinc tetra-C(4)-methoxyphenyl porphyrin (ZP), and a H-cardanol-triazole conjugate (HTC). The results showed that HTZPC undergoes J-type aggregation in both non-polar and highly polar solvents, which is dictated by van der Waals attractive forces between H-cardanol units in polar solvents (e.g. methanol and dimethylformamide) and π–π stacking interactions between porphyrin units in non-polar solvents (hexane). Moreover, the spectra indicated that the triazole units could stabilize the zinc porphyrin via intermolecular coordinate-complex formation. We anticipate that fat-soluble HTZPC could find applications in medical fields (e.g. in the photodynamic therapy of fat tissue).

A fluorescent and fat-soluble zinc porphyrin incorporating four units of hydrogenated cardanol (H-cardanol) was synthesized, and its physico-chemical properties were characterized.

Synthesis and photophysical and electrochemical properties of novel unsymmetrical phthalocyanines with a Sudan IV moiety

The synthesis of novel, A[Formula: see text]B type unsymmetrical metal-free and metallophthalocyanines bearing one aza dye group Sudan IV and three nitro terminal moieties was achieved by cyclotetramerization of novel 4-((1-((E)-(2-methyl-4-((E)-[Formula: see text]-tolyldiazenyl)phenyl)diazenyl)naphthalen-2-yl)oxy)phthalonitrile and 4-nitrophthalonitrile. The new unsymmetrical metal-free and metallophthalocyanines have been characterized using elemental analyses, [Formula: see text]H NMR, FT-IR, UV-vis and mass spectroscopic data. The aggregation properties of the compounds were investigated in a concentration range of 1.0 × 10[Formula: see text] M–6.25 × 10[Formula: see text] M. General trends were also studied for fluorescence quantum yields and lifetimes of these phthalocyanine compounds in tetrahydrofuran. The fluorescence of the synthesized unsymmetrical metal-free and metallophthalocyanines is effectively quenched by 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ) in THF. In-depth investigation of the electrochemical properties showed that nitro groups extended the reduction potentials.

Boronic Acid Functionalized Photosensitizers: A Strategy To Target the Surface of Bacteria and Implement Active Agents in Polymer Coatings

Advanced methods for preventing and controlling hospital-acquired infections via eradication of free-floating bacteria and bacterial biofilms are of great interest. In this regard, the attractiveness of unconventional treatment modalities such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) continues to grow. This study investigated a new and innovative strategy for targeting polysaccharides found on the bacterial cell envelope and the biofilm matrix using the boronic acid functionalized and highly effective photosensitizer (PS) silicon(IV) phthalocyanine. This strategy has been found to be successful in treating planktonic cultures and biofilms of Gram-negative E. coli. An additional advantage of boronic acid functionality is a possibility to anchor the tailor made PS to poly(vinyl alcohol) and to fabricate a self-disinfecting coating.

Polymer-Chlorosome Nanocomposites Consisting of Non-Native Combinations of Self-Assembling Bacteriochlorophylls

Chlorosomes are one of the characteristic light-harvesting antennas from green sulfur bacteria. These complexes represent a unique paradigm: self-assembly of bacteriochlorophyll pigments within a lipid monolayer without the influence of protein. Because of their large size and reduced complexity, they have been targeted as models for the development of bioinspired light-harvesting arrays. We report the production of biohybrid light-harvesting nanocomposites mimicking chlorosomes, composed of amphiphilic diblock copolymer membrane bodies that incorporate thousands of natural self-assembling bacteriochlorophyll molecules derived from green sulfur bacteria. The driving force behind the assembly of these polymer-chlorosome nanocomposites is the transfer of the mixed raw materials from the organic to the aqueous phase. We incorporated up to five different self-assembling pigment types into single nanocomposites that mimic chlorosome morphology. We establish that the copolymer-BChl self-assembly process works smoothly even when non-native combinations of BChl homologues are included. Spectroscopic characterization revealed that the different types of self-assembling pigments participate in ultrafast energy transfer, expanding beyond single chromophore constraints of the natural chlorosome system. This study further demonstrates the utility of flexible short-chain, diblock copolymers for building scalable, tunable light-harvesting arrays for technological use and allows for an in vitro analysis of the flexibility of natural self-assembling chromophores in unique and controlled combinations.

On the synthesis of functionalized porphyrins and porphyrin conjugates via β-aminoporphyrins

A two-step methodology to prepare a series ofmeso-tetraarylporphyrin conjugates bearing water-soluble moieties, anchoring groups and receptor subunits.

Novel chlorophylls and new directions in photosynthesis research

Chlorophyll d and chlorophyll f are red-shifted chlorophylls, because their Qy absorption bands are significantly red-shifted compared with chlorophyll a. The red-shifted chlorophylls broaden the light absorption region further into far red light. The presence of red-shifted chlorophylls in photosynthetic systems has opened up new possibilities of research on photosystem energetics and challenged the unique status of chlorophyll a in oxygenic photosynthesis. In this review, we report on the chemistry and function of red-shifted chlorophylls in photosynthesis and summarise the unique adaptations that have allowed the proliferation of chlorophyll d- and chlorophyll f-containing organisms in diverse ecological niches around the world.

Chlorophyll f-driven photosynthesis in a cavernous cyanobacterium

Chlorophyll (Chl) f is the most recently discovered chlorophyll and has only been found in cyanobacteria from wet environments. Although its structure and biophysical properties are resolved, the importance of Chl f as an accessory pigment in photosynthesis remains unresolved. We found Chl f in a cyanobacterium enriched from a cavernous environment and report the first example of Chl f-supported oxygenic photosynthesis in cyanobacteria from such habitats. Pigment extraction, hyperspectral microscopy and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated the presence of Chl a and f in unicellular cyanobacteria found in enrichment cultures. Amplicon sequencing indicated that all oxygenic phototrophs were related to KC1, a Chl f-containing cyanobacterium previously isolated from an aquatic environment. Microsensor measurements on aggregates demonstrated oxygenic photosynthesis at 742 nm and less efficient photosynthesis under 768- and 777-nm light probably because of diminished overlap with the absorption spectrum of Chl f and other far-red absorbing pigments. Our findings suggest the importance of Chl f-containing cyanobacteria in terrestrial habitats.

Multiporphyrin arrays with π-π interchromophore interactions

A recently reported synthetic method has been employed to prepare several arrays of free base and zinc porphyrins. In the arrays, the porphyrins are arranged around a central benzene ring. The lack of aryl rings in the linkages to the central benzene ring, coupled with the presence of only one meso-aryl substituent on each porphyrin, allows strong electronic interactions between the porphyrin macrocycles. In arrays containing two or six porphyrins, a variety of evidence indicates that the porphyrins exist as twist-stacked dimers reminiscent of the special pairs of bacteriochlorophylls found in some photosynthetic bacteria. These dimers feature van der Waals contact between the macrocycles, and demonstrate excitonic splitting due to π-π interactions. The excitonic effects split and blue-shift the Soret absorptions, and slightly broaden the Q-band absorptions and shift them to longer wavelengths. The interactions also lower the first oxidation potentials by ca. 100 mV, and the arrays show evidence for delocalization of the radical cation over both porphyrins in the dimer. The arrays demonstrate singlet-singlet energy transfer among the chromophores. Arrays of this type will be good models for some aspects of the interactions of photosynthetic pigments, including those of reaction center special pairs and possibly quantum coherence effects. They can also be useful in artificial photosynthetic constructs.

Lessons from chlorophylls: modifications of porphyrinoids towards optimized solar energy conversion

Practical applications of photosynthesis-inspired processes depend on a thorough understanding of the structures and physiochemical features of pigment molecules such as chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls. Consequently, the major structural features of these pigments have been systematically examined as to how they influence the S₁ state energy, lifetimes, quantum yields, and pigment photostability. In particular, the effects of the macrocyclic π-electron system, central metal ion (CMI), peripheral substituents, and pigment aggregation, on these critical parameters are discussed. The results obtained confirm that the π-electron system of the chromophore has the greatest influence on the light energy conversion capacity of porphyrinoids. Its modifications lead to changes in molecular symmetry, which determine the energy levels of frontier orbitals and hence affect the S₁ state properties. In the case of bacteriochlorophylls aggregation can also strongly decrease the S₁ energy. The CMI may be considered as another influential structural feature which only moderately influences the ground-state properties of bacteriochlorophylls but strongly affects the singlet excited-state. An introduction of CMIs heavier than Mg²⁺ significantly improves pigments' photostabilities, however, at the expense of S₁ state lifetime. Modifications of the peripheral substituents may also influence the S₁ energy, and pigments’ redox potentials, which in turn influence their photostability.

In vitro conversion of vinyl to formyl groups in naturally occurring chlorophylls

The chemical structural differences distinguishing chlorophylls in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms are either formyl substitution (chlorophyll b, d, and f) or the degree of unsaturation (8-vinyl chlorophyll a and b) of a side chain of the macrocycle compared with chlorophyll a. We conducted an investigation of the conversion of vinyl to formyl groups among naturally occurring chlorophylls. We demonstrated the in vitro oxidative cleavage of vinyl side groups to yield formyl groups through the aid of a thiol-containing compound in aqueous reaction mixture at room temperature. Heme is required as a catalyst in aqueous solution but is not required in methanolic reaction mixture. The conversion of vinyl- to formyl- groups is independent of their position on the macrocycle, as we observed oxidative cleavages of both 3-vinyl and 8-vinyl side chains to yield formyl groups. Three new chlorophyll derivatives were synthesised using 8-vinyl chlorophyll a as substrate: 8-vinyl chlorophyll d, [8-formyl]-chlorophyll a, and [3,8-diformyl]-chlorophyll a. The structural and spectral properties will provide a signature that may aid in identification of the novel chlorophyll derivatives in natural systems. The ease of conversion of vinyl- to formyl- in chlorophylls demonstrated here has implications regarding the biosynthetic mechanism of chlorophyll din vivo.

Chlorophyll modifications and their spectral extension in oxygenic photosynthesis

Chlorophylls are magnesium-tetrapyrrole molecules that play essential roles in photosynthesis. All chlorophylls have similar five-membered ring structures, with variations in the side chains and/or reduction states. Formyl group substitutions on the side chains of chlorophyll a result in the different absorption properties of chlorophyll b, chlorophyll d, and chlorophyll f. These formyl substitution derivatives exhibit different spectral shifts according to the formyl substitution position. Not only does the presence of various types of chlorophylls allow the photosynthetic organism to harvest sunlight at different wavelengths to enhance light energy input, but the pigment composition of oxygenic photosynthetic organisms also reflects the spectral properties on the surface of the Earth. Two major environmental influencing factors are light and oxygen levels, which may play central roles in the regulatory pathways leading to the different chlorophylls. I review the biochemical processes of chlorophyll biosynthesis and their regulatory mechanisms.

Optimization and effects of different culture conditions on growth of Halomicronema hongdechloris - a filamentous cyanobacterium containing chlorophyll f

A chlorophyll f containing cyanobacterium, Halomicronema hongdechloris (H. hongdechloris) was isolated from a stromatolite cyanobacterial community. The extremely slow growth rate of H. hongdechloris has hindered research on this newly isolated cyanobacterium and the investigation of chlorophyll f-photosynthesis. Therefore, optimizing H. hongdechloris culture conditions has become an essential requirement for future research. This work investigated the effects of various culture conditions, essential nutrients and light environments to determine the optimal growth conditions for H. hongdechloris and the biosynthetic rate of chlorophyll f. Based on the total chlorophyll concentration, an optimal growth rate of 0.22 ± 0.02 day(-1)(doubling time: 3.1 ± 0.3 days) was observed when cells were grown under continuous illumination with far-red light with an intensity of 20 μE at 32°C in modified K + ES seawater (pH 8.0) with additional nitrogen and phosphor supplements. High performance liquid chromatography on H. hongdechloris pigments confirmed that chlorophyll a is the major chlorophyll and chlorophyll f constitutes ~10% of the total chlorophyll from cells grown under far-red light. Fluorescence confocal image analysis demonstrated changes of photosynthetic membranes and the distribution of photopigments in response to different light conditions. The total photosynthetic oxygen evolution yield per cell showed no changes under different light conditions, which confirms the involvement of chlorophyll f in oxygenic photosynthesis. The implications of the presence of chlorophyll f in H. hongdechloris and its relationship with the ambient light environment are discussed.

Chlorosome antenna complexes from green photosynthetic bacteria

Chlorosomes are the distinguishing light-harvesting antenna complexes that are found in green photosynthetic bacteria. They contain bacteriochlorophyll (BChl) c, d, e in natural organisms, and recently through mutation, BChl f, as their principal light-harvesting pigments. In chlorosomes, these pigments self-assemble into large supramolecular structures that are enclosed inside a lipid monolayer to form an ellipsoid. The pigment assembly is dictated mostly by pigment-pigment interactions as opposed to protein-pigment interactions. On the bottom face of the chlorosome, the CsmA protein aggregates into a paracrystalline baseplate with BChl a, and serves as the interface to the next energy acceptor in the system. The exceptional light-harvesting ability at very low light conditions of chlorosomes has made them an attractive subject of study for both basic and applied science. This review, incorporating recent advancements, considers several important aspects of chlorosomes: pigment biosynthesis, organization of pigments and proteins, spectroscopic properties, and applications to bio-hybrid and bio-inspired devices.

Photocatalytic reduction of artificial and natural nucleotide co-factors with a chlorophyll-like tin-dihydroporphyrin sensitizer

An efficient photocatalytic two-electron reduction and protonation of nicotine amide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺), as well as the synthetic nucleotide co-factor analogue N-benzyl-3-carbamoyl-pyridinium (BNAD⁺), powered by photons in the long-wavelength region of visible light (λ_irr > 610 nm), is demonstrated for the first time. This functional artificial photosynthetic counterpart of the complete energy-trapping and solar-to-fuel conversion primary processes occurring in natural photosystem I (PS I) is achieved with a robust water-soluble tin(IV) complex of meso-tetrakis(N-methylpyridinium)-chlorin acting as the light-harvesting sensitizer (threshold wavelength of λ_thr = 660 nm). In buffered aqueous solution, this chlorophyll-like compound photocatalytically recycles a rhodium hydride complex of the type [Cp*Rh(bpy)H]⁺, which is able to mediate regioselective hydride transfer processes. Different one- and two-electron donors are tested for the reductive quenching of the irradiated tin complex to initiate the secondary dark reactions leading to nucleotide co-factor reduction. Very promising conversion efficiencies, quantum yields, and excellent photosensitizer stabilities are observed. As an example of a catalytic dark reaction utilizing the reduction equivalents of accumulated NADH, an enzymatic process for the selective transformation of aldehydes with alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) coupled to the primary photoreactions of the system is also demonstrated. A tentative reaction mechanism for the transfer of two electrons and one proton from the reductively quenched tin chlorin sensitizer to the rhodium co-catalyst, acting as a reversible hydride carrier, is proposed.

An efficient photocatalytic system for the two-electron reduction of nucleotide co-factors has been characterized. For the first time it could be demonstrated in an abiotic system that the long-wavelength region of the visible spectrum (> 610 nm) can be exploited to power the accumulation of NADH. The artificial photosynthetic reaction sequence, described here in detail, can be regarded as the first true functional model system for the overall light reactions occurring in natural photosystem I.