New HyPhOE publication in Scientific Reports

New HyPhOE publication in Scientific Reports

The HyPhOE UniBa team has published a new article “Incorporating a molecular antenna in diatom microalgae cells enhances photosynthesis” in Scientific Reports Journal. 

A new route for improving photosynthesis is described in this article. Diatom microalgae photosynthetic activity was increased by enlarging its light absorption capacity  in vivo incorporating a soluble, non-toxic, organic emitter. The chosen dye is Cy5, simply added to the culture medium, which was autonomously incorporated into Thalassiosira weissflogii diatom enhancing photosynthetic oxygen production by 49%, cell density by 40% and leading to an energy storage, increasing the biosynthesis of free fatty acids by 12%. This innovative approach promotes the light harvesting without recurring to genetical modification.

Hence, within the HyPhoE project, the UniBa research results pave the way for easily improving photosynthesis for large scale production of algae and biofuel.

Link: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84690-z.pdf