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Augmenting light coverage for photosynthesis through YFP-enhanced charge separation at the Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction centre

Author

Listed:
  • Katie J. Grayson

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Kaitlyn M. Faries

    (Washington University)

  • Xia Huang

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Pu Qian

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Preston Dilbeck

    (Washington University)

  • Elizabeth C. Martin

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Andrew Hitchcock

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Cvetelin Vasilev

    (University of Sheffield)

  • Jonathan M. Yuen

    (Washington University)

  • Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki

    (Photosynthetic Antenna Research Center, Washington University)

  • Graham J. Leggett

    (University of Sheffield, Brook Hill)

  • Dewey Holten

    (Washington University)

  • Christine Kirmaier

    (Washington University)

  • C. Neil Hunter

    (University of Sheffield)

Abstract

Photosynthesis uses a limited range of the solar spectrum, so enhancing spectral coverage could improve the efficiency of light capture. Here, we show that a hybrid reaction centre (RC)/yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) complex accelerates photosynthetic growth in the bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The structure of the RC/YFP-light-harvesting 1 (LH1) complex shows the position of YFP attachment to the RC-H subunit, on the cytoplasmic side of the RC complex. Fluorescence lifetime microscopy of whole cells and ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy of purified RC/YFP complexes show that the YFP–RC intermolecular distance and spectral overlap between the emission of YFP and the visible-region (QX) absorption bands of the RC allow energy transfer via a Förster mechanism, with an efficiency of 40±10%. This proof-of-principle study demonstrates the feasibility of increasing spectral coverage for harvesting light using non-native genetically-encoded light-absorbers, thereby augmenting energy transfer and trapping in photosynthesis.

Suggested Citation

  • Katie J. Grayson & Kaitlyn M. Faries & Xia Huang & Pu Qian & Preston Dilbeck & Elizabeth C. Martin & Andrew Hitchcock & Cvetelin Vasilev & Jonathan M. Yuen & Dariusz M. Niedzwiedzki & Graham J. Legget, 2017. "Augmenting light coverage for photosynthesis through YFP-enhanced charge separation at the Rhodobacter sphaeroides reaction centre," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-12, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13972
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13972
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