IGEM:Stanford/2009/Photosynthesis

Project Summary

Attempt to increase rate/efficiency of photosynthesis by expressing non-native photosynthetic pigments in cyanobacteria. Our theory is if we can expand the wavelengths that cyanobacteria can absorb, then it can photosynthesize faster/more efficiently.

Original Presentation: Increase Absorption Range for Photosynthesis

What We Know

To get acquainted with the topic: please read

• Interesting general information sites:
  • Review of Photosynthesis -Isis
  • Overview of Photosynthetic Pigments -Isis
  • Photosynthetic Pigments: Structure and Spectroscopy - Isis

What We Don't Know (but need to know)

• How do we incorporate pigments into the photosystems?
• How do we measure photosynthesis rate or efficiency?

Important/Interesting Papers

• Chlorophyll b Expressed in Cyanobacteria Functions as a Light-harvesting Antenna in Photosystem I through Flexibility of the Proteins - This group expressed Chlorophyll B in Cyanobacteria and it incorporated itself into the photosystem!
• Other iGEM projects
  • A BioBrick toolkit for cyanobacteria - The team from Hawaii last year built some biobrick parts that work with Cyanobacteria
• see also Photosynthesis Links