Abstract
Photosynthesis is responsible for the sunlight-powered conversion of carbon dioxide and water into chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates and the release of O2 as a by-product. Although many proteins are involved in photosynthesis, the fascinating machinery of Photosystem II (PSII) is at the heart of this process. This tutorial review describes an emerging technique named protein film photoelectrochemistry (PF-PEC), which allows for the light-dependent activity of PSII adsorbed onto an electrode surface to be studied. The technique is straightforward to use, does not require highly specialised and/or expensive equipment, is highly selective for the active fractions of the adsorbed enzyme, and requires a small amount of enzyme sample. The use of PF-PEC to study PSII can yield insights into its activity, stability, quantum yields, redox behaviour, and interfacial electron transfer pathways. It can also be used in PSII inhibition studies and chemical screening, which may prove useful in the development of biosensors. PSII PF-PEC cells also serve as proof-of-principle solar water oxidation systems; here, a comparison is made against PSII-inspired synthetic photocatalysts and materials for artificial photosynthesis.
Highlights
1.1 Overview and motivationNatural photosynthesis is the process by which light energy converts water and CO2 into O2 and carbohydrates; a chemical and thereby storable form of energy for use by oxygenic photosynthetic organisms
This study demonstrates that the linkage between the Photosystem II (PSII) and the electrode surface is critical for electron transfer efficiencies and enzyme stability in protein film photoelectrochemistry (PF-PEC) studies
Valuable information about the immobilisation of photoactive PSII can be obtained by comparing DET and mediated electron transfer (MET)
Summary
Natural photosynthesis is the process by which light energy converts water and CO2 into O2 and carbohydrates; a chemical and thereby storable form of energy for use by oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. Photosystem II (PSII) is the first enzyme in the photosynthetic chain and responsible for the efficient extraction of electrons from water, evolution of O2, and contribution to the proton gradient that drives ATP synthesis.[1,2]. PSII is the benchmark photocatalyst for solar water oxidation, and serves as a guide to the design of artificial photosynthetic systems for solar fuel production.[3] the activity of PSII impacts heavily on crop production. Global concern over food security and the availability of agricultural land for biofuel production, understanding how PSII activity can be affected by certain chemical and environmental factors may lead to quicker solutions and innovations. Having access to straightforward characterisation and screening techniques, such as protein film photoelectrochemistry (PF-PEC), may greatly drive progress in these areas.[4,5,6]
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