Cyanobacterial photosynthesis modelling for hydrogen production

Abstract

[EN] The problematic of the current dependence of fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources of energy, and how many biotechnological approaches, such as the production of biohydrogen in cyanobacteria, can help us to overcome this situation were discussed in this report. Here, the potential of Synechocystis sp. PC 6803 as a hydrogen biofactory was reviewed. With that aim, a computational model developed using MATLAB as numerical computing environment was built from the ground. The objective of the model was to simulate the metabolical fluxes of electrons in the electron transport chain in the thylakoid membrane of Synechocystis sp. PC 6803, with particular emphasis on biohydrogen synthesis by the reversible oxygen-intolerant reversible [Ni-Fe] hydrogenase Hox. While still in an early stage of development, this computational model has proved its capability to simulate the behavior of the photosynthetic electron transport chain of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and the synthesis of biohydrogen under different conditions and modifications. The future iterations of the model will be able to simulate additional mechanisms, while providing more accurate and biologically significant data to metabolic engineers.

[ES] En este sentido, la comprensión holística de la fotosíntesis es fundamental en la orientación de posibles estrategias experimentales para optimizar cepas que persigan tal fin. El alumno se encargará de hacer un estudio dirigido sobre la cadena electrónica fotosintética, comprender sus características y transformar dicha información en parámetros numéricos que serán integrados en ecuaciones matemáticas. Asimismo se encargará de simular y analizar los resultados obtenidos numéricamente con el fin de predecir y comprender la producción de hidrógeno. Recibirá formación, por lo tanto, en los fenómenos asociados a la fotosíntesis, así como en el modelado y simulación de procesos biológicos. La presente investigación se enmarca dentro del proyecto de la Comisión Europea Cyanofactory (FP7-Energy 308518) .