Photoactive Conjugated Polymer‐Based Hybrid Biosystems for Enhancing Cyanobacterial Photosynthesis and Regulating Redox State of Protein

Abstract

Constructing artificial hybrid biosystems, comprising of organisms and organic non‐biological functional material, will afford promising opportunities to achieve brand new or enhanced functions. In this work, a hybrid biosystem is designed and constructed by electrostatically recombining photoactive cationic poly(fluorene‐co‐phenylene) derivative (PFP) with a cyanobacterium (Synechococcus sp. PCC7942, Syne) for enhancing its photosynthesis and regulating exogenous redox state of protein. The light utility efficiency of Syne is significantly improved assisted by the excellent ultraviolet light‐harvesting ability of PFP, which accelerates electron‐transfer rate in non‐cyclic electron transport chain, and further augments the light‐dependent reaction in photosynthesis. As a result, O2, NADPH, and ATP production in the light‐dependent reaction are increased by 52.8%, 47.9%, and 27.2%, respectively. Moreover, the extracellular electron transfer property of Syne is able to realize electronic communication with external circumstances. Specifically, the electrons exported from Syne can reduce exogenous oxidized cytochrome c (Cyt c) and adsorbed PFP has the ability to regulate the reduction degree of Syne to Cyt c. This work reports an ideal design of a conjugated polymer‐based hybrid biosystem, providing a strategy to promote photosynthesis and regulate the redox state of protein.

Conjugated Polymers for Gene Delivery and Photothermal Gene Expression

“…Besides cPPEs and PT, PFP and its derivatives are also widely studied as gene carriers. PFP displays good biosafety and stable photophysical properties [70] . In fact, the traditional strategy of modifying fluorescent dyes to gene vectors was complicated and prone to photobleaching [71] .…”

“…PFP displays good biosafety and stable photophysical properties. [70] In fact, the traditional strategy of modifying fluorescent dyes to gene vectors was complicated and prone to photobleaching. [71] Our group modified lipids to the side chains of PFP to ensure its good binding ability to cell membrane, and the amino groups of the side chain were well combined with pDNA.…”

Whole‐Cell‐Based Photosynthetic Biohybrid Systems for Energy and Environmental Applications

“…The introduction of PFP could elevate the utility efficiency of light since Syne was able to absorb ultraviolet light and further transfer absorbed light to PSII for light-independent reactions, thus the generation of O 2 , NADPH, and ATP was increased by 52.8 %, 47.9 %, and 27.2 %, respectively. [48] Besides the fundamental function of expanding the range of light absorption, CPs can also regulate state transition between PSI and PSII and achieve synergistical improvement of PSI and PSII activity. State transition is a selfregulating mechanism in which photosynthetic apparatuses balance the excitation energy distribution between PSII and PSI through reversible association of light-harvesting complexes II and improve the efficiency of light energy utilization.…”

“…( Syne ) with photoactive cationic poly(fluorene‐ co ‐phenylene) derivative (PFP) via electrostatic interaction (Figure 7a). The introduction of PFP could elevate the utility efficiency of light since Syne was able to absorb ultraviolet light and further transfer absorbed light to PSII for light‐independent reactions, thus the generation of O 2 , NADPH, and ATP was increased by 52.8 %, 47.9 %, and 27.2 %, respectively [48] . Besides the fundamental function of expanding the range of light absorption, CPs can also regulate state transition between PSI and PSII and achieve synergistical improvement of PSI and PSII activity.…”

“…(a) Schematic diagram of Syne/PFP hybrid system to enhance photosynthetic activity of Syne under irradiation. Reproduced from Ref [48]. with permission from Wiley-VCH.…”