Abstract
An oxygen-evolving photosynthetic reaction center complex (PSII) was adsorbed into nanopores in SBA, a mesoporous silica compound. We purified the dimer of PSII complex from a thermophilic cyanobacterium, Thermosynechococcus vulcanus, which grows optimally at 57 °C. The thermally stable PSII dimeric complex has a diameter of 20 nm and a molecular mass of 756 kDa and binds more than 60 chlorophylls. The SBA particles, with average internal pore diameters of 15 nm (SBA 15) and 23 nm (SBA 23), adsorbed 4.7 and 15 mg of PSII/g SBA, respectively. Measurement with a confocal laser-scanning microscope indicated the adsorption of PSII to the surface and the inner space of the SBA 23 particles, indicating the adsorption of PSII into the 23 nm silica nanopores. PSII did not bind to the inner pores of SBA 15. PSII bound to SBA 23 showed the high and stable activity of a photosynthetic oxygen-evolving reaction, indicating the light-driven electron transport from water to the quinone molecules added in the outer medium. The PSII-SBA conjugate can be a new material for photosensors and artificial photosynthetic systems.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 705-713 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Langmuir |
Volume | 27 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jan 18 2011 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Materials Science(all)
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Surfaces and Interfaces
- Spectroscopy
- Electrochemistry