Biological Sciences Division
Research Highlights

April 2017

Optimizing Cyanobacteria for Biofuel Production

Light-harvesting complexes in bacteria could lead to clean energy solutions

Researchers furthered bioengineering and bio-design for more amenable energy-producing organisms. Enlarge Image.

Cyanobacteria have attracted significant attention as potential biocatalysts for production of clean energy and green chemicals from sunlight and atmospheric CO2. A recent study investigated the effects of altering large cellular complexes called phycobilisomes, which cyanobacteria use to efficiently capture light energy for photosynthesis. The same phycobilisomes could guide the development of optimal strategies for biofuel production.

Here's the complete story.