WATTS-APTAMER - PRETORIA_UP iGEM Toggle navigation MENU PRETORIA_UP 2016 Home Project Description Parts Results Medal Criteria Proof of Concept Human Practices Engagement Collaboration Modelling Hardware Notebook Attributions Safety Team WATTS-APTAMER - UP_PRETORIA iGEM Synthetic DNA aptamers for thylakoid tethering in photo-electrobiochemical cells Video not supported Project Abstract Recent improvements of photo-bioelectrochemical cells (PBEC), which harness electrons from photosynthesis to generate electricity, include synthetic attachment of chloroplast thylakoids to graphene electrodes. However, current attachment techniques require costly chemically synthesized linkers and PBECs are not yet efficient enough for industrial energy generation. In this project, DNA aptamers were designed and evaluated as low-cost biological linkers to tether plant photosystem II (PSII) complexes to graphene foam electrodes. This project aims to improve the attachment and orientation of the PSII complex to the graphene electrode for higher electron transfer efficiency, and serves as a prototype for the in planta expression of RNA aptamers for self-assembling thylakoid attachment. Read more on our Project Description page. TEAM Click here to learn more about our team. We would like to extend special thanks to the following organizations for their support: WATTS-APTAMER - PRETORIA_UP iGEM
Recent improvements of photo-bioelectrochemical cells (PBEC), which harness electrons from photosynthesis to generate electricity, include synthetic attachment of chloroplast thylakoids to graphene electrodes. However, current attachment techniques require costly chemically synthesized linkers and PBECs are not yet efficient enough for industrial energy generation. In this project, DNA aptamers were designed and evaluated as low-cost biological linkers to tether plant photosystem II (PSII) complexes to graphene foam electrodes. This project aims to improve the attachment and orientation of the PSII complex to the graphene electrode for higher electron transfer efficiency, and serves as a prototype for the in planta expression of RNA aptamers for self-assembling thylakoid attachment.
Read more on our Project Description page.
Click here to learn more about our team.