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Electron Transfer at the Microbe–Mineral Interface

Biological photovoltaics: intra- and extra-cellular electron transport by cyanobacteria

Robert W. Bradley, Paolo Bombelli, Stephen J.L. Rowden, Christopher J. Howe
Biochemical Society Transactions Nov 21, 2012, 40 (6) 1302-1307; DOI: 10.1042/BST20120118
Robert W. Bradley
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K.
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Paolo Bombelli
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K.
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Stephen J.L. Rowden
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K.
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Christopher J. Howe
Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Hopkins Building, Downing Site, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QW, U.K.
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  • For correspondence: ch26@cam.ac.uk
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Abstract

A large variety of new energy-generating technologies are being developed in an effort to reduce global dependence on fossil fuels, and to reduce the carbon footprint of energy generation. The term ‘biological photovoltaic system’ encompasses a broad range of technologies which all employ biological material that can harness light energy to split water, and then transfer the resulting electrons to an anode for power generation or electrosynthesis. The use of whole cyanobacterial cells is a good compromise between the requirements of the biological material to be simply organized and transfer electrons efficiently to the anode, and also to be robust and able to self-assemble and self-repair. The principle that photosynthetic bacteria can generate and transfer electrons directly or indirectly to an anode has been demonstrated by a number of groups, although the power output obtained from these devices is too low for biological photovoltaic devices to be useful outside the laboratory. Understanding how photosynthetically generated electrons are transferred through and out of the organism is key to improving power output, and investigations on this aspect of the technology are the main focus of the present review.

  • biological photovoltaics
  • cyanobacterium
  • microbial fuel cell
  • photosynthesis

Footnotes

  • Electron Transfer at the Microbe–Mineral Interface: A Biochemical Society Focused Meeting held at University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K., 2–4 April 2012. Organized and Edited by Jim Fredrickson (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, U.S.A.), David Richardson (University of East Anglia, U.K.) and John Zachara (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, U.S.A.).

Abbreviations: BPV, biological photovoltaic(s); BQ, 1,4-benzoquinone; DBMIB, 2,5-dibromo-3-methyl-6-isopropyl-p-benzoquinone; DCMU, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea; HNQ, 2-hydroxy-1,4-naphthoquinone; MFC, microbial fuel cell; PETC, photosynthetic electron-transfer chain; PSI, Photosystem I; PSII, Photosystem II

  • © 2012 The Authors Journal
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December 2012

Volume: 40 Issue: 6

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Biological photovoltaics: intra- and extra-cellular electron transport by cyanobacteria
Robert W. Bradley, Paolo Bombelli, Stephen J.L. Rowden, Christopher J. Howe
Biochemical Society Transactions Dec 2012, 40 (6) 1302-1307; DOI: 10.1042/BST20120118
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Biological photovoltaics: intra- and extra-cellular electron transport by cyanobacteria
Robert W. Bradley, Paolo Bombelli, Stephen J.L. Rowden, Christopher J. Howe
Biochemical Society Transactions Dec 2012, 40 (6) 1302-1307; DOI: 10.1042/BST20120118

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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Introduction and context
    • Light in MFCs
    • Electrogenesis from photoautotrophs?
    • Getting the electrons out
    • Intracellular electron transfer
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Keywords

biological photovoltaics
cyanobacterium
microbial fuel cell
photosynthesis

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