FURI | Fall 2019

Utilizing Acetate as a Carbon Source for Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 Mutant for Microbial Electro-Photosynthesis

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The primary objective of this research is to study the effectiveness of utilizing acetate as a carbon source in the culturing of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 mutant lacking photosystem II.  This organism is used in Microbial Electro-Photosynthesis (MEPS), where electrons are delivered to photosystem I via an electrode. Currently, glucose is used as a carbon source; this decreases the rate of reduction of photosystem I by allowing the Synechocystis to store glycogen from glucose during starvation periods, inhibiting the uptake of electrons. The effectiveness of acetate as a carbon source will be tested by measuring electron uptake of photosystem I using a Joliot-type spectrometer.

Student researcher

Anna Mangus

Anna Michelle Mangus

Chemical engineering

Hometown: Glendale, Arizona, United States

Graduation date: Spring 2022