Team:ShanghaitechChina/Proof

igem2016:ShanghaiTech

Abstract

Solar Hunter is an artificial hydrogen production system made up of biofilm-anchored semiconductor nanorods (NRs) which efficiently convert photons to electrons, and engineered strain expressing [FeFe] Hydrogenase that can efficiently catalyze Hydrogen production upon receiving the electrons donated by NRs. The success of this integrative hydrogen-producing system relies on robust construction and functional characterization of each part separately. We have proved that we successfully constructed and characterized our parts, as revealed below

Detailed Proof

a. We, first, need to synthesize suitable semiconductor nanomaterials that can absorb solar energy and convert photons into electrons. We have demonstrated two types of nanomaterials, that is, CdSe Quantum Dots (QDs) and CdS nanorods (NRs) that can fulfill this need. The synthesis and characterization data is shown in our webpage. nanomaterials

b. To allow easy recycling of precious semiconductor nanomaterials, we utilized engineered biofilms to anchor nanomaterials via metal coordination chemistry. Please refer to Biofilm for the successful construction and characterization of engineered biofilms that allow firm binding of nanomaterials.

c. Finally, high-activity hydrogenase is necessary for our system. To achieve efficient enzymatic activities, we codon-optimized and constructed the whole hydrogenase gene clusters (from Clostridium Acetobutylicum) by leveraging the multi-expression Acembl System. Reference Hydrogenase

Main points we achieved in our project

1. Successful synthesis and characterization of CdS NRs and CdSe QDs with desired features.

2. Successful production and characterization of Biofilms, and successful confirmation that engineered biofilms composed by CsgA-Histag fused protein allowed firm binding of semiconductor nanomaterials. Tested the BioBrick BBa_K2132001 adhesion to multi-well and micro-beads, and its binding to nano materials within the hydrogen production system.

3. Successful construction and sequence of [FeFe]-hydrogenase gene clusters from Clostridium acetobutylicum and integrate all genes into one single plasmid to allow reliable expression.