[Lecture] BUILDING ARTIFICIAL PHOTOSYNTHESIS: from light reactions to dark reactions

Speaker: Shanshan Luo (Postdoctoral Researcher, Dept. of Biochemistry &Synthatic Metabolism, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology)

Time: 13:30 - 14:30 p.m., Sep 19, 2024, GMT +8

Venue: Rm 411, Jinguang Building, PKU

Abstract:

The increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels call for more efficient CO₂ fixation systems to rebalance the carbon cycle. To date, biological CO₂ fixation remains the only proven method for large-scale CO₂ capture and conversion, with photosynthesis playing a central role. Enhancing the efficiency of photosynthesis is pivotal for addressing the CO₂ challenge. With the emergence of synthetic biology, it has become possible to develop new-to-nature solutions from the first principles by combining freely the entire repertoire of enzymes, reactions, and mechanisms. This offers the opportunity to create novel solutions for superior CO₂ capture and conversion, surpassing what nature has evolved. In this talk, will present my research on using synthetic biology to build artificial photosynthesis, including the design and construction of new-to-nature CO₂ fixation pathways (artificial dark reactions), and the development of energy conversion modules to power the carbon fixation process sustainably (artificial light reactions).

Source: School of Life Sciences, PKU