Toward combined photobiological-photochemical formation of kerosene-type biofuels: which small 1,3-diene photodimerizes most efficiently?

A transition from fossil- to bio-based hydrocarbon fuels is required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; yet, traditional biomass cultivation for biofuel production competes with food production and impacts negatively on biodiversity. Recently, we reported a proof-of-principle study of a two-step photobiological-photochemical approach to kerosene biofuels in which a volatile hydrocarbon (isoprene) is produced by photosynthetic cyanobacteria, followed by its photochemical dimerization into C hydrocarbons. Both steps can utilize solar irradiation.

Electrospinning of Electroconductive Water-Resistant Nanofibers of PEDOT-PSS, Cellulose Nanofibrils and PEO: Fabrication, Characterization, and Cytocompatibility.

Electrically conductive composite nanofibers were fabricated using poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) and cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) via the electrospinning technique. Poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) was used to assist the electrospinning process, and poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether was used to induce chemical cross-linking, enabling stability of the formed fibrous mats in water. The experimental parameters regarding the electrospinning polymer dispersion and electrospinning process were carefully studied to achieve a reproducible method to obtain bead-free nanofibrous mats with high stability after water contact, with an electrical conductivity of 13 ± 5 S m, thus making them suitable for bioelectrochemical applications.

Phycobilisome integrity and functionality in lipid unsaturation and xanthophyll mutants in Synechocystis.

The major light-harvesting system in cyanobacteria, the phycobilisome, is an essential component of the photosynthetic apparatus that regulates the utilization of the natural light source-the Sun. Earlier works revealed that the thylakoid membrane composition and its physical properties might have an important role in antennas docking. Polyunsaturated lipids and xanthophylls are among the most significant modulators of the physical properties of thylakoid membranes.

Structural integrity of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 phycobilisomes evaluated by means of differential scanning calorimetry.

Phycobilisomes (PBSs) are supramolecular pigment-protein complexes that serve as light-harvesting antennae in cyanobacteria. They are built up by phycobiliproteins assembled into allophycocyanin core cylinders (ensuring the physical interaction with the photosystems) and phycocyanin rods (protruding from the cores and having light-harvesting function), the whole PBSs structure being maintained by linker proteins. PBSs play major role in light-harvesting optimization in cyanobacteria; therefore, the characterization of their structural integrity in intact cells is of great importance.

Zeaxanthin and echinenone modify the structure of photosystem I trimer in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

The function of xanthophylls in the organisation and structure of the photosynthetic complexes is not completely clarified yet. Recently, we observed a reduced level of the photosystem oligomers upon xanthophyll deficiency, although xanthophylls are not considered to be part of the photosynthetic complexes of cyanobacteria. The present study aimed at further investigating the relationship between xanthophylls and photosytem I (PSI) complex in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp.

Lipid and carotenoid cooperation-driven adaptation to light and temperature stress in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803.

Polyunsaturated lipids are important components of photosynthetic membranes. Xanthophylls are the main photoprotective agents, can assist in protection against light stress, and are crucial in the recovery from photoinhibition. We generated the xanthophyll- and polyunsaturated lipid-deficient ROAD mutant of Synechocystis sp.

β-Carotene influences the phycobilisome antenna of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

We investigated the relation between the carotenoid composition and the structure of phycobilisome (PBS) antenna of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. PBS is a large soluble protein complex enhances the light harvesting efficiency of the cells.

A microdroplet cell culture based high frequency somatic embryogenesis system for pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.

A protocol for high frequency production of somatic embryos was worked out in pigeonpea, Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp. The protocol involved sequential employment of embryogenic callus cultures, low density cell suspension cultures and a novel microdroplet cell culture system.