Light-harvesting chlorophyll pigments enable mammalian mitochondria to capture photonic energy and produce ATP

Abstract

Sunlight is the most abundant energy source on this planet. However, the ability to convert sunlight into biological energy in the form of adenosine-59-triphosphate (ATP) is thought to be limited to chlorophyll-containing chloroplasts in photosynthetic organisms. Here we show that mammalian mitochondria can also capture light and synthesize ATP when mixed with a light-capturing metabolite of chlorophyll. The same metabolite fed to the worm Caenorhabditis elegans leads to increase in ATP synthesis upon light exposure, along with an increase in life span. We further demonstrate the same potential to convert light into energy exists in mammals, as chlorophyll metabolites accumulate in mice, rats and swine when fed a chlorophyll-rich diet. Results suggest chlorophyll type molecules modulate mitochondrial ATP by catalyzing the reduction of coenzyme Q, a slow step in mitochondrial ATP synthesis. We propose that through consumption of plant chlorophyll pigments, animals, too, are able to derive energy directly from sunlight.

Chemistry in the Bioactivity of Chlorophylls: An Overview

“…One of the most surprising functions proposed for chlorophyll derivatives in mammals is the capacity to produce ATP [135]. Authors showed that upon incubation of isolated mice mitochondria and brain, heart and lens homogenates, homogenized duck fat, and alive Caenorhabditis elegans, with pyropheophytin a, the light exposure was able to increase ATP concentrations.…”

Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Parkinson’s Disease—Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation as a Potential Therapeutic Strategy

“…In the subsequent experiment, ATP levels only increased in groups where P-a and NIR light were co-administered, and not in those in which P-a or NIR were given in isolation. This observation was further supported by in vivo demonstration in a Caenorhabditis elegans model that lifespan, respiration rate, and ATP levels increased significantly when both P-a and NIR were administered concomitantly (Xu et al, 2014). Given the multiplicity of these competing theories, it may be that NIR exerts its modulatory effects through several mechanisms instead of one.…”

“…This theory is supported by the fact that cellular ATP level increases are immediate after PBM stimulation (Quirk et al, 2016), suggesting that the intracellular changes mediating elevated ATP production are alterations in physical properties rather than chemical processes, as the latter tends to occur with a slight time lag (Sommer, 2019). Yet another group suggested that the photo-absorbent metabolite pyropheophorbide-a (P-a) of dietary chlorophyl could facilitate light-driven energy production processes in animals (Xu et al, 2014). Xu et al (2014) first examined whether P-a associates with the mitochondria after chlorophyl ingestion by looking at fluorescence emission levels of P-a from mammalian mitochondrial fragments.…”

“…Yet another group suggested that the photo-absorbent metabolite pyropheophorbide-a (P-a) of dietary chlorophyl could facilitate light-driven energy production processes in animals (Xu et al, 2014). Xu et al (2014) first examined whether P-a associates with the mitochondria after chlorophyl ingestion by looking at fluorescence emission levels of P-a from mammalian mitochondrial fragments. Elevated levels of 675 nm fluorescence emission characteristics of P-a were noticed after a certain concentration of mitochondrial fragments was amassed, suggesting the possibility of P-a being bound to mitochondrial proteins.…”

First‐Pass Metabolism of Chlorophylls in Mice

“…Recent discoveries have shown the specific functions of several chlorophyll metabolites of developing in animal tissues, including the production of ATP, the regulation of the redox status in plasma, implications as visual pigments, and activation of specific nuclear receptors that could control lipid abnormalities in common diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia among others. Evidently, the origin of chlorophyll metabolites present in the animal body is circumscribed to the diet.…”