scinerds: The Artificial Leaf and ‘Turbo-Charged’ Photosynthesis Professor Richard Cogdell from the University of Glasgow is taking a synthetic biology approach in a bid to create an artificial ‘leaf’ capable of converting the sun’s energy to liquid fuel. Professor Cogdell explains: “The sun gives its energy away for free but making use of it is tricky. We can use solar panels to make electricity but it’s intermittent and difficult to store. What we are trying to do is take the energy from the sun and trap it so that it can be used when it is needed most.” Professor Howard Griffiths, University of Cambridge, is also hoping to enhance the potential of photosynthesis by focusing on an enzyme called RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase). It’s a key enzyme in photosynthesis that allows plants to use atmospheric carbon dioxide to create energy-rich molecules, such as simple sugars. Some plants have evolved mechanisms that act like biological turbochargers to concentrate carbon dioxide around the enzyme for optimal photosynthesis. This boosts growth and production. Professor Griffiths’ research is developing a deeper understanding of these biological turbochargers so that they may one day be incorporated into crops to increase yields. Though some may find this incredibly surprising, typical crop plants have around 1-2% photosynthetic efficiency! Thus, it is unsurprising that this collection of research has come under the spotlight, as a ‘small’ improvement in crop photosynthetic efficiency can produce considerable results.

scinerds:

The Artificial Leaf and ‘Turbo-Charged’ Photosynthesis

Professor Richard Cogdell from the University of Glasgow is taking a synthetic biology approach in a bid to create an artificial ‘leaf’ capable of converting the sun’s energy to liquid fuel. Professor Cogdell explains: “The sun gives its energy away for free but making use of it is tricky. We can use solar panels to make electricity but it’s intermittent and difficult to store. What we are trying to do is take the energy from the sun and trap it so that it can be used when it is needed most.”

Professor Howard Griffiths, University of Cambridge, is also hoping to enhance the potential of photosynthesis by focusing on an enzyme called RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase). It’s a key enzyme in photosynthesis that allows plants to use atmospheric carbon dioxide to create energy-rich molecules, such as simple sugars.

Some plants have evolved mechanisms that act like biological turbochargers to concentrate carbon dioxide around the enzyme for optimal photosynthesis. This boosts growth and production. Professor Griffiths’ research is developing a deeper understanding of these biological turbochargers so that they may one day be incorporated into crops to increase yields.

Though some may find this incredibly surprising, typical crop plants have around 1-2% photosynthetic efficiency! Thus, it is unsurprising that this collection of research has come under the spotlight, as a ‘small’ improvement in crop photosynthetic efficiency can produce considerable results.

  • February 21
  • , 2012
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