Journal of Energy Bioscience 2024, Vol.15, No.4, 255-266 http://bioscipublisher.com/index.php/jeb 255 Feature Review Open Access Optimization of Photosynthetic Protein Complex Structures to Improve Light Energy Conversion Efficiency HongliMa College of Life Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, 350025, Fujian, China Corresponding email: ma-hong-li@sohu.com Journal of Energy Bioscience, 2024, Vol.15, No.4 doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0024 Received: 18 Jun., 2024 Accepted: 28 Jul., 2024 Published: 09 Aug., 2024 Copyright © 2024 Ma, This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Preferred citation for this article: Ma H.L., 2024, Optimization of photosynthetic protein complex structures to improve light energy conversion efficiency, Journal of Energy Bioscience, 15(4): 255-266 (doi: 10.5376/jeb.2024.15.0024) Abstract This study involves understanding and manipulating the spatial arrangement and interactions of protein subunits and cofactors to improve the overall performance of these complexes in artificial photosynthetic systems. Key discoveries include the identification of self-assembly strategies that integrate light harvesting with charge separation and transport, utilizing chemically robust dyes and biomimetic porphyrins. High-resolution structural analyses of photosystem complexes have revealed the variability and adaptability of light-harvesting systems in different organisms, which can inform the design of more efficient artificial systems. Additionally, the integration of photosynthetic protein complexes into solid-state devices has demonstrated significant improvements in internal quantum efficiencies, reaching up to 32%. The study also highlights the importance of lipid bilayers in maintaining the structural integrity and enhancing the energy transfer kinetics of light-harvesting complexes. The findings suggest that optimizing the structural organization and environmental conditions of photosynthetic protein complexes can significantly improve their light energy conversion efficiency. These insights provide a foundation for developing advanced artificial photosynthetic systems and bio-photovoltaic devices, potentially leading to more efficient solar energy utilization. Keywords Photosynthetic protein complexes; Light energy conversion; Self-assembly; Charge separation; Artificial photosynthesis; Quantum efficiency; Lipid bilayers; Structural optimization 1 Introduction Photosynthesis is a fundamental biological process that converts solar energy into chemical energy, sustaining life on Earth. This process is primarily carried out by plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, which utilize two major protein-cofactor complexes known as photosystems I (PSI) and II (PSII) (Jordan et al., 2001; Dau and Zaharieva, 2009; Nelson and Junge, 2015). These photosystems are embedded in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts and work in tandem to capture light energy and drive the synthesis of carbohydrates from water and carbon dioxide (Dau and Zaharieva, 2009). The efficiency of photosynthesis is remarkable, with PSI and PSII achieving near-perfect quantum efficiency in converting absorbed photons into chemical energy (Nelson and Junge, 2015; Croce and Amerongen, 2020). This high efficiency is attributed to the sophisticated arrangement of pigments and proteins within the photosystems, which facilitate rapid and efficient energy transfer and electron transport (Collini et al., 2010; Pan et al., 2020). Optimizing the structures of photosynthetic protein complexes is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of light energy conversion. The detailed atomic structures of PSI and PSII have provided insights into the mechanisms of light capture and energy transfer, revealing potential targets for optimization (Jordan et al., 2001; Pan et al., 2020). For instance, the arrangement of chlorophyll and carotenoid molecules within the light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) plays a significant role in determining the efficiency of energy transfer to the reaction centers (Pan et al., 2020; Shang et al., 2023). By modifying these structures, it is possible to improve the overall efficiency of photosynthesis, which has significant implications for renewable energy technologies. Enhanced photosynthetic efficiency could lead to the development of biohybrid devices for solar energy conversion and solar fuel synthesis, leveraging the natural mechanisms of photosynthesis (Liu et al., 2019).
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