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Oxygen sensitivity of algal H{sub 2}-production

Journal Article · · Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02920420· OSTI ID:576221
;  [1];  [2]
  1. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
  2. Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN (United States)
Photoproduction of H{sub 2} by green algae utilizes electrons originating from the photosynthetic oxidation of water and does not require metabolic intermediates. However, algal hydrogenases are extremely sensitive to O{sub 2}, which limits their usefulness in future commercial H{sub 2}-production systems. We designed an experimental technique for the selection of O{sub 2}tolerant, H{sub 2}-producing variants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii based on the ability of wild-type cells to survive a short (20 min) exposure to metronidazole in the presence of controlled concentrations of O{sub 2}. The number of survivors depends on the metronidazole concentration, light intensity, preinduction of the hydrogenase, and the presence or absence of O{sub 2}. Finally, we demonstrate that some of the selected survivors in fact exhibit H{sub 2}-production capacity that is less sensitive to O{sub 2} than the original wild-type population. 17 refs., 1 tab.
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
576221
Report Number(s):
CONF-960539--
Journal Information:
Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Journal Name: Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology Vol. 63-65; ISSN ABIBDL; ISSN 0273-2289
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English