Light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria.
Background Cyanobacteria account for 20-30% of Earth's primary photosynthetic productivity and convert solar energy into biomass-stored chemical energy at the rate of approximately 450 TW [1]. These single-cell microorganisms are resilient predecessors of all higher oxygenic phototrophs and can...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:5c67babe29f5490997b964eadb958541 2023-05-15T13:45:23+02:00 Light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria. John M Pisciotta Yongjin Zou Ilia V Baskakov 2010-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010821 https://doaj.org/article/5c67babe29f5490997b964eadb958541 EN eng Public Library of Science (PLoS) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/20520829/?tool=EBI https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010821 https://doaj.org/article/5c67babe29f5490997b964eadb958541 PLoS ONE, Vol 5, Iss 5, p e10821 (2010) Medicine R Science Q article 2010 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010821 2022-12-31T11:52:20Z Background Cyanobacteria account for 20-30% of Earth's primary photosynthetic productivity and convert solar energy into biomass-stored chemical energy at the rate of approximately 450 TW [1]. These single-cell microorganisms are resilient predecessors of all higher oxygenic phototrophs and can be found in self-sustaining, nitrogen-fixing communities the world over, from Antarctic glaciers to the Sahara desert [2]. Methodology/principal findings Here we show that diverse genera of cyanobacteria including biofilm-forming and pelagic strains have a conserved light-dependent electrogenic activity, i.e. the ability to transfer electrons to their surroundings in response to illumination. Naturally-growing biofilm-forming photosynthetic consortia also displayed light-dependent electrogenic activity, demonstrating that this phenomenon is not limited to individual cultures. Treatment with site-specific inhibitors revealed the electrons originate at the photosynthetic electron transfer chain (P-ETC). Moreover, electrogenic activity was observed upon illumination only with blue or red but not green light confirming that P-ETC is the source of electrons. The yield of electrons harvested by extracellular electron acceptor to photons available for photosynthesis ranged from 0.05% to 0.3%, although the efficiency of electron harvesting likely varies depending on terminal electron acceptor. Conclusions/significance The current study illustrates that cyanobacterial electrogenic activity is an important microbiological conduit of solar energy into the biosphere. The mechanism responsible for electrogenic activity in cyanobacteria appears to be fundamentally different from the one exploited in previously discovered electrogenic bacteria, such as Geobacter, where electrons are derived from oxidation of organic compounds and transported via a respiratory electron transfer chain (R-ETC) [3], [4]. The electrogenic pathway of cyanobacteria might be exploited to develop light-sensitive devices or future technologies that convert solar ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic PLoS ONE 5 5 e10821 |
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English |
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Medicine R Science Q |
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Medicine R Science Q John M Pisciotta Yongjin Zou Ilia V Baskakov Light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria. |
topic_facet |
Medicine R Science Q |
description |
Background Cyanobacteria account for 20-30% of Earth's primary photosynthetic productivity and convert solar energy into biomass-stored chemical energy at the rate of approximately 450 TW [1]. These single-cell microorganisms are resilient predecessors of all higher oxygenic phototrophs and can be found in self-sustaining, nitrogen-fixing communities the world over, from Antarctic glaciers to the Sahara desert [2]. Methodology/principal findings Here we show that diverse genera of cyanobacteria including biofilm-forming and pelagic strains have a conserved light-dependent electrogenic activity, i.e. the ability to transfer electrons to their surroundings in response to illumination. Naturally-growing biofilm-forming photosynthetic consortia also displayed light-dependent electrogenic activity, demonstrating that this phenomenon is not limited to individual cultures. Treatment with site-specific inhibitors revealed the electrons originate at the photosynthetic electron transfer chain (P-ETC). Moreover, electrogenic activity was observed upon illumination only with blue or red but not green light confirming that P-ETC is the source of electrons. The yield of electrons harvested by extracellular electron acceptor to photons available for photosynthesis ranged from 0.05% to 0.3%, although the efficiency of electron harvesting likely varies depending on terminal electron acceptor. Conclusions/significance The current study illustrates that cyanobacterial electrogenic activity is an important microbiological conduit of solar energy into the biosphere. The mechanism responsible for electrogenic activity in cyanobacteria appears to be fundamentally different from the one exploited in previously discovered electrogenic bacteria, such as Geobacter, where electrons are derived from oxidation of organic compounds and transported via a respiratory electron transfer chain (R-ETC) [3], [4]. The electrogenic pathway of cyanobacteria might be exploited to develop light-sensitive devices or future technologies that convert solar ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
John M Pisciotta Yongjin Zou Ilia V Baskakov |
author_facet |
John M Pisciotta Yongjin Zou Ilia V Baskakov |
author_sort |
John M Pisciotta |
title |
Light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria. |
title_short |
Light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria. |
title_full |
Light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria. |
title_fullStr |
Light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria. |
title_full_unstemmed |
Light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria. |
title_sort |
light-dependent electrogenic activity of cyanobacteria. |
publisher |
Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
publishDate |
2010 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010821 https://doaj.org/article/5c67babe29f5490997b964eadb958541 |
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Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic |
op_source |
PLoS ONE, Vol 5, Iss 5, p e10821 (2010) |
op_relation |
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/20520829/?tool=EBI https://doaj.org/toc/1932-6203 1932-6203 doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010821 https://doaj.org/article/5c67babe29f5490997b964eadb958541 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0010821 |
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PLoS ONE |
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5 |
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5 |
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e10821 |
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1766223476983595008 |