Researchers determine the structure of very efficient light-harvesting antennae in green bacteria
13 May 2009
An international team of scientists, including researchers from the Universities of Groningen and Leiden, has resolved the structure of chlorophyll in the chlorosomes of green bacteria. Chlorosomes are the light-harvesting antennae of these bacteria. They are elongated small pockets which can accommodate up to 250,000 chlorophyll molecules.
Such structures could be useful in the future for the development of ‘artificial leaves’: new generations of solar cells for the conversion of energy from sunlight into fuel, because green bacteria can collect sunlight in a very efficient way to convert it into chemical energy.
Further results available in the PNAS publication on this research: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
PNAS Early Edition
Such structures could be useful in the future for the development of ‘artificial leaves’: new generations of solar cells for the conversion of energy from sunlight into fuel, because green bacteria can collect sunlight in a very efficient way to convert it into chemical energy.
Further results available in the PNAS publication on this research: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Alternating syn-anti bacteriochlorophylls form concentric helical nanotubes in Chlorosomes
Swapna Ganapathy, Gert T. Oostergetel, Piotr K. Wawryziniak, Michael Reus, Aline Gomez Maqueo Chew, Francesco Buda, Egbert J. Boekema, Donald A. Bryant, Alfred R. Holzwarth, Huub J.M. de Groot.PNAS Early Edition
| Last modified: | 22 August 2024 1.34 p.m. |
More news
-
06 May 2025
Overcoming grid congestion: ‘Making better use of what we already have’
Grid congestion poses a major problem. There is little to no capacity to connect new households and businesses to the power grid and it risks halting the energy transition. Michele Cucuzzella, Associate Professor of Energy Systems & Nonlinear...
-
29 April 2025
Impact | Rubber recycling
In the coming weeks the nominees for the Ben Feringa Impact Award 2025 will introduce themselves and their impactful research or project. This week: Francesco Picchioni on his innovative way to recycle rubber.
-
29 April 2025
Impact | Improving Human-AI Decision-Making in healthcare
In the coming weeks the nominees for the Ben Feringa Impact Award 2025 will introduce themselves and their impactful research or project. This week: Andra Cristiana Minculescu on her research project on Human-AI Decision-Making in healthcare.