Overexpression of the rnf operon of Rhodobacter sphaeroides to increase hydrogen production

Microbiology;Bacteriology

Linz, AlexandraKontur, Wayne ;

University of Wisconsin

关键词: Microbiology;    Bacteriology;   

Others  :  https://minds.wisconsin.edu/bitstream/handle/1793/67731/2013_Linz.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

瑞士|英语

来源: University of Wisconsin

【 摘 要 】

Hydrogen has the potential to be a renewable fuel when produced by photosynthetic bacteria. Rhodobacter sphaeroides can produce hydrogen via the nitrogenase enzyme. In this research, several methods are used to attempt to create R. sphaeroides strains that overexpress the rnf operon. This operon codes for a protein complex that is proposed to have a role in providing nitrogenase with electrons to produce hydrogen, and its overexpression is expected to increase hydrogen yield. However, no effect on hydrogenproduction is observed in the overexpression strains. Future research will assay fortranscripts of the rnf operon and for the Rnf complex in the experimental strainscompared to their controls to determine if our strains do in fact produce higher amountsof the Rnfcomplex. If these strains are overexpressing the Rnfcomplex, then this mayindicate that the Rnf complex functions somewhat differently in R. sphaeroides than haspreviously been suggested.