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Hippler M, Khosravitabar F. Light-Driven H 2 Production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Lessons from Engineering of Photosynthesis. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:2114. [PMID: 39124233 PMCID: PMC11314271 DOI: 10.3390/plants13152114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, hydrogen production is catalyzed via the [FeFe]-hydrogenases HydA1 and HydA2. The electrons required for the catalysis are transferred from ferredoxin (FDX) towards the hydrogenases. In the light, ferredoxin receives its electrons from photosystem I (PSI) so that H2 production becomes a fully light-driven process. HydA1 and HydA2 are highly O2 sensitive; consequently, the formation of H2 occurs mainly under anoxic conditions. Yet, photo-H2 production is tightly coupled to the efficiency of photosynthetic electron transport and linked to the photosynthetic control via the Cyt b6f complex, the control of electron transfer at the level of photosystem II (PSII) and the structural remodeling of photosystem I (PSI). These processes also determine the efficiency of linear (LEF) and cyclic electron flow (CEF). The latter is competitive with H2 photoproduction. Additionally, the CBB cycle competes with H2 photoproduction. Consequently, an in-depth understanding of light-driven H2 production via photosynthetic electron transfer and its competition with CO2 fixation is essential for improving photo-H2 production. At the same time, the smart design of photo-H2 production schemes and photo-H2 bioreactors are challenges for efficient up-scaling of light-driven photo-H2 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Hippler
- Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki 710-0046, Japan
| | - Fatemeh Khosravitabar
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
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2
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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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King SJ, Jerkovic A, Brown LJ, Petroll K, Willows RD. Synthetic biology for improved hydrogen production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:1946-1965. [PMID: 35338590 PMCID: PMC9249334 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen is a clean alternative to fossil fuels. It has applications for electricity generation and transportation and is used for the manufacturing of ammonia and steel. However, today, H2 is almost exclusively produced from coal and natural gas. As such, methods to produce H2 that do not use fossil fuels need to be developed and adopted. The biological manufacturing of H2 may be one promising solution as this process is clean and renewable. Hydrogen is produced biologically via enzymes called hydrogenases. There are three classes of hydrogenases namely [FeFe], [NiFe] and [Fe] hydrogenases. The [FeFe] hydrogenase HydA1 from the model unicellular algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been studied extensively and belongs to the A1 subclass of [FeFe] hydrogenases that have the highest turnover frequencies amongst hydrogenases (21,000 ± 12,000 H2 s−1 for CaHydA from Clostridium acetobutyliticum). Yet to date, limitations in C. reinhardtii H2 production pathways have hampered commercial scale implementation, in part due to O2 sensitivity of hydrogenases and competing metabolic pathways, resulting in low H2 production efficiency. Here, we describe key processes in the biogenesis of HydA1 and H2 production pathways in C. reinhardtii. We also summarize recent advancements of algal H2 production using synthetic biology and describe valuable tools such as high‐throughput screening (HTS) assays to accelerate the process of engineering algae for commercial biological H2 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J King
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ante Jerkovic
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Louise J Brown
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kerstin Petroll
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert D Willows
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Arnold J, Chapman J, Arnold M, Dinu CZ. Hyaluronic Acid Allows Enzyme Immobilization for Applications in Biomedicine. BIOSENSORS 2022; 12:bios12010028. [PMID: 35049657 PMCID: PMC8773612 DOI: 10.3390/bios12010028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Enzymes are proteins that control the efficiency and effectiveness of biological reactions and systems, as well as of engineered biomimetic processes. This review highlights current applications of a diverse range of enzymes for biofuel production, plastics, and chemical waste management, as well as for detergent, textile, and food production and preservation industries respectively. Challenges regarding the transposition of enzymes from their natural purpose and environment into synthetic practice are discussed. For example, temperature and pH-induced enzyme fragilities, short shelf life, low-cost efficiency, poor user-controllability, and subsequently insufficient catalytic activity were shown to decrease pertinence and profitability in large-scale production considerations. Enzyme immobilization was shown to improve and expand upon enzyme usage within a profit and impact-oriented commercial world and through enzyme-material and interfaces integration. With particular focus on the growing biomedical market, examples of enzyme immobilization within or onto hyaluronic acid (HA)-based complexes are discussed as a definable way to improve upon and/or make possible the next generation of medical undertakings. As a polysaccharide formed in every living organism, HA has proven beneficial in biomedicine for its high biocompatibility and controllable biodegradability, viscoelasticity, and hydrophilicity. Complexes developed with this molecule have been utilized to selectively deliver drugs to a desired location and at a desired rate, improve the efficiency of tissue regeneration, and serve as a viable platform for biologically accepted sensors. In similar realms of enzyme immobilization, HA’s ease in crosslinking allows the molecule to user-controllably enhance the design of a given platform in terms of both chemical and physical characteristics to thus best support successful and sustained enzyme usage. Such examples do not only demonstrate the potential of enzyme-based applications but further, emphasize future market trends and accountability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackie Arnold
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (J.A.); (J.C.)
| | - Jordan Chapman
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (J.A.); (J.C.)
| | - Myra Arnold
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA;
- Department of Business Incubator, John Chambers College of Business and Economics, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
| | - Cerasela Zoica Dinu
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA; (J.A.); (J.C.)
- Correspondence:
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Abstract
It is well known that over the last 60 years the trend of long-lived greenhouse gas emissions have shown a strong acceleration. There is an increasing concern and a mounting opposition by public opinion to continue with the use of fossil energy. Western countries are presently involved in a so-called energy transition with the objective of abandoning fossil energy for renewable sources. In this connection, hydrogen can play a central role. One of the sustainable ways to produce hydrogen is the use of microalgae which possess two important natural catalysts: photosystem II and hydrogenase, used to split water and to combine protons and electrons to generate gaseous hydrogen, respectively. For about 20 years of study on photobiological hydrogen production, our scientific hopes were based on the application of the sulfur protocol, which indisputably represented a very important advancement in the field of hydrogen production biotechnology. However, as reported in this review, there is increasing evidence that this strategy is not economically viable. Therefore, a change of paradigm for the photobiological production of hydrogen based on microalgae seems mandatory. This review points out that an increasing number of microalgal strains other than Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are being tested and are able to produce sustainable amount of hydrogen without nutrient starvation and to fulfill this goal including the application of co-cultures.
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Hancock JT, LeBaron TW, May J, Thomas A, Russell G. Molecular Hydrogen: Is This a Viable New Treatment for Plants in the UK? PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2021; 10:plants10112270. [PMID: 34834633 PMCID: PMC8618766 DOI: 10.3390/plants10112270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Despite being trialed in other regions of the world, the use of molecular hydrogen (H2) for enhanced plant growth and the postharvest storage of crops has yet to be widely accepted in the UK. The evidence that the treatment of plants and plant products with H2 alleviates plant stress and slows crop senescence continues to grow. Many of these effects appear to be mediated by the alteration of the antioxidant capacity of plant cells. Some effects seem to involve heme oxygenase, whilst the reduction in the prosthetic group Fe3+ is also suggested as a mechanism. Although it is difficult to use as a gaseous treatment in a field setting, the use of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) has the potential to be of significant benefit to agricultural practices. However, the use of H2 in agriculture will only be adopted if the benefits outweigh the production and application costs. HRW is safe and relatively easy to use. If H2 gas or HRW are utilized in other countries for agricultural purposes, it is tempting to suggest that they could also be widely used in the UK in the future, particularly for postharvest storage, thus reducing food waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- John T. Hancock
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK; (J.M.); (A.T.); (G.R.)
| | - Tyler W. LeBaron
- Centre of Experimental Medicine, Institute for Heart Research, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences of Comenius University, 84104 Bratislava, Slovakia;
- Molecular Hydrogen Institute, Enoch, UT 84721, USA
- Department of Kinesiology and Outdoor Recreation, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT 84720, USA
| | - Jennifer May
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK; (J.M.); (A.T.); (G.R.)
| | - Adam Thomas
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK; (J.M.); (A.T.); (G.R.)
| | - Grace Russell
- Department of Applied Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK; (J.M.); (A.T.); (G.R.)
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Milrad Y, Schweitzer S, Feldman Y, Yacoby I. Bi-directional electron transfer between H2 and NADPH mitigates light fluctuation responses in green algae. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 186:168-179. [PMID: 33793951 PMCID: PMC8154092 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The metabolism of green algae has been the focus of much research over the last century. These photosynthetic organisms can thrive under various conditions and adapt quickly to changing environments by concomitant usage of several metabolic apparatuses. The main electron coordinator in their chloroplasts, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), participates in many enzymatic activities and is also responsible for inter-organellar communication. Under anaerobic conditions, green algae also accumulate molecular hydrogen (H2), a promising alternative for fossil fuels. However, to scale-up its accumulation, a firm understanding of its integration in the photosynthetic apparatus is still required. While it is generally accepted that NADPH metabolism correlates to H2 accumulation, the mechanism of this collaboration is still vague and relies on indirect measurements. Here, we investigated this connection in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii using simultaneous measurements of both dissolved gases concentration, NADPH fluorescence and electrochromic shifts at 520-546 nm. Our results indicate that energy transfer between H2 and NADPH is bi-directional and crucial for the maintenance of redox balance under light fluctuations. At light onset, NADPH consumption initially eventuates in H2 evolution, which initiates the photosynthetic electron flow. Later on, as illumination continues the majority of NADPH is diverted to the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle. Dark onset triggers re-assimilation of H2, which produces NADPH and so, enables initiation of dark fermentative metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Milrad
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Shira Schweitzer
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Yael Feldman
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Iftach Yacoby
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, The George S. Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Author for communication: (I.Y.)
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Nagarajan D, Dong CD, Chen CY, Lee DJ, Chang JS. Biohydrogen production from microalgae-Major bottlenecks and future research perspectives. Biotechnol J 2021; 16:e2000124. [PMID: 33249754 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202000124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 10/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The imprudent use of fossil fuels has resulted in high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, leading to climate change and global warming. Reduction in GHG emissions and energy insecurity imposed by the depleting fossil fuel reserves led to the search for alternative sustainable fuels. Hydrogen is a potential alternative energy carrier and is of particular interest because hydrogen combustion releases only water. Hydrogen is also an important industrial feedstock. As an alternative energy carrier, hydrogen can be used in fuel cells for power generation. Current hydrogen production mainly relies on fossil fuels and is usually energy and CO2 -emission intensive, thus the use of fossil fuel-derived hydrogen as a carbon-free fuel source is fallacious. Biohydrogen production can be achieved via microbial methods, and the use of microalgae for hydrogen production is outstanding due to the carbon mitigating effects and the utilization of solar energy as an energy source by microalgae. This review provides comprehensive information on the mechanisms of hydrogen production by microalgae and the enzymes involved. The major challenges in the commercialization of microalgae-based photobiological hydrogen production are critically analyzed and future research perspectives are discussed. Life cycle analysis and economic assessment of hydrogen production by microalgae are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillirani Nagarajan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Di Dong
- Department of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Nanzih District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yen Chen
- Center for Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Duu-Jong Lee
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jo-Shu Chang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, College of Engineering, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung, Taiwan
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Chen J, Li Q, Wang L, Fan C, Liu H. Advances in Whole‐Cell Photobiological Hydrogen Production. ADVANCED NANOBIOMED RESEARCH 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/anbr.202000051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education Tongji University Shanghai 200092 China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Lihua Wang
- Bioimaging Center Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility Zhangjiang Laboratory, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute Chinese Academy of Sciences Shanghai 201210 China
| | - Chunhai Fan
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai 200240 China
| | - Huajie Liu
- School of Chemical Science and Engineering Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems Key Laboratory of Advanced Civil Engineering Materials of Ministry of Education Tongji University Shanghai 200092 China
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Burlacot A, Burlacot F, Li-Beisson Y, Peltier G. Membrane Inlet Mass Spectrometry: A Powerful Tool for Algal Research. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:1302. [PMID: 33013952 PMCID: PMC7500362 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.01302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Since the first great oxygenation event, photosynthetic microorganisms have continuously shaped the Earth's atmosphere. Studying biological mechanisms involved in the interaction between microalgae and cyanobacteria with the Earth's atmosphere requires the monitoring of gas exchange. Membrane inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS) has been developed in the early 1960s to study gas exchange mechanisms of photosynthetic cells. It has since played an important role in investigating various cellular processes that involve gaseous compounds (O2, CO2, NO, or H2) and in characterizing enzymatic activities in vitro or in vivo. With the development of affordable mass spectrometers, MIMS is gaining wide popularity and is now used by an increasing number of laboratories. However, it still requires an important theory and practical considerations to be used. Here, we provide a practical guide describing the current technical basis of a MIMS setup and the general principles of data processing. We further review how MIMS can be used to study various aspects of algal research and discuss how MIMS will be useful in addressing future scientific challenges.
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