https://www.cas.cn/syky/202312/t20231208_4990877.shtml

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42591-x

Compared with natural photosynthetic organisms, editable artificial photosynthetic cells are able to convert CO2 into customizable high value-added fuels and chemicals more efficiently through rational design. In addition, artificial photosynthetic cells are the key to ultimately mimic the tissue morphology and characteristics of natural photosynthetic organisms, opening the way to building devices for practical applications. However, the realization of this concept hinges on cofactors that are critical for CO2 reductase catalysis, but is limited by the regenerative capacity of multiple cofactors. Recently, a research team at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) created an artificial photosynthetic cell containing a bio-abiotic hybridized energy module, which enhances the regenerative capacity of multiple biologically active cofactors and provides a more versatile platform for editable artificial photosynthetic cells. This artificial photosynthetic cell can achieve editable capabilities by coupling with diverse reductases, enabling customizable CO2 conversion. The research results were published in Nature Communications.

In this study, an efficient energy module based on hybridization of biological vesicles and inorganic quantum dots was designed. This design facilitated proton-coupled electron transfer and significantly enhanced the regeneration of biologically active NADPH, NADH, and ATP cofactors without the need for external material supplementation. This bio-abiotic hybridization platform can be further coupled to a variety of NADPH, NADH and ATP-dependent CO2 reductases to selectively convert CO2 into carbon-based products. The study constructed artificial photosynthetic cells by loading energy modules, bioenzymes and cofactors via microfluidics to achieve controlled CO2 conversion.