Bio-hybrid photoconverter by covalent functionalization of the photosynthetic reaction center of Rhodobacter sphaeroides with fluorescein isothiocyanate. Issue 1722 (16th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tangorra, Rocco Roberto; Antonucci, Alessandra; Milano, Francesco; la Gatta, Simona; Operamolla, Alessandra; Ragni, Roberta; Agostiano, Angela; Trotta, Massimo; Farinola, Gianluca M.
• Editors: Estroff, L.; Lee, S-W.; Nam, J-M.; Perkins, E.
• Is Part Of: MRS proceedings. Issue 1722:(2014)
• Publication Date: 2015-06-16
• Subjects: biological synthesis (assembly), -- biological synthesis (chemical reaction), -- biomimetic (assembly); Electrical engineering -- Congresses; Physics -- Congresses; Materials -- Research -- Congresses; Materials science -- Congresses; 620.11
• DOI: 10.1557/opl.2015.602
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0272-9172

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Organic biological hybrid systems, accessible by covalent functionalization of photosynthetic proteins with molecular antennas, represent a promising novelty to enhance natural photosynthesis. In this paper, we present the successful bioconjugation of a commercial fluorophore, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), to the photosynthetic reaction center RC from the bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides strain R26. The resulting hybrid outperforms the pristine protein in hole-electron couple generation yield, exclusively at wavelengths where the fluorophore absorbs while the protein does not.