Summary:
A team of scientists in Germany and Israel have developed a method that can measure the electrical current generated by a single photosynthetic protein system. The scientists have been able to covalently bind a photosynthetic protein system to a gold electrode, and the electrical current generated can be measured by a gold-tipped, metal-coated glass rod. Light energy is absorbed by electrons, and the electrical current is transmitted by photosynthetic active proteins, made of chloroplasts. This system is highly efficient, as the electricity travels a small amount of distance very quickly, minimizing energy loss. The protein system may be used in future nanotechnology as a microscopic power generator.
Relevance:
This article relates to cells, proteins, and photosynthesis, which we have been discussing in class. We have learned about plant cells, and how plants produce their energy by chloroplasts. Also, we have been talking about active transport proteins and how they move substances inside cells.
Source:
http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2012/10/02/solar_cell_consisting_of_a_single_molecule.html - English summary of press release
http://www.tum.de/die-tum/aktuelles/pressemitteilungen/lang/article/30053/ - press release by Technical University of Munich
Have the team of scientists used this method to measure the current generated by a photosynthetic protein system? If so, what were their results?
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DeleteThe scientists have already successfully tested the method. If you are really this interested, you can pay $32 and read the published results at http://www.nature.com/nnano/journal/v7/n10/full/nnano.2012.165.html
DeleteHas this system actually been tested or used, or is this just a prediction of what will happen?
ReplyDeleteSee the reply to Tharun's post. You guys practically asked the same question.
Delete