NADPH performs mediated electron transfer in cyanobacterial-driven bio-photoelectrochemical cells

• Published in: iScience Vol. 24; no. 1; p. 101892
• Main Authors: Shlosberg, Yaniv, Eichenbaum, Benjamin, Tóth, Tünde N., Levin, Guy, Liveanu, Varda, Schuster, Gadi, Adir, Noam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 22.01.2021; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bio-Electrochemistry; Biotechnology; Energy Engineering; Microbiology; Biotechnology; Energy Engineering; Bio-Electrochemistry; Microbiology
• ISSN: 2589-0042; 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101892

Previous studies have shown that live cyanobacteria can produce photocurrent in bio-photoelectrochemical cells (BPECs) that can be exploited for clean renewable energy production. Electron transfer from cyanobacteria to the electrochemical cell was proposed to be facilitated by small molecule(s) mediator(s) whose identity (or identities) remain unknown. Here, we elucidate the mechanism of electron transfer in the BPEC by identifying the major electron mediator as NADPH in three cyanobacterial species. We show that an increase in the concentration of NADPH secreted into the external cell medium (ECM) is obtained by both illumination and activation of the BPEC. Elimination of NADPH in the ECM abrogates the photocurrent while addition of exogenous NADP+ significantly increases and prolongs the photocurrent production. NADP+ is thus the first non-toxic, water soluble electron mediator that can functionally link photosynthetic cells to an energy conversion system and may serve to improve the performance of future BPECs. [Display omitted] •NADPH is the electron mediator in cyanobacterial bio-photoelectrochemical cells•Operation of the electrochemical cell induces NADPH release from cyanobacteria•Addition of exogenous NADP+ to cyanobacteria enhances photocurrent production•NADPH is released by different fresh or sea water cyanobacterial species Bio-Electrochemistry; Microbiology; Biotechnology; Energy Engineering