Switchable photosystem-II designer algae for photobiological hydrogen production

A switchable photosystem-II designer algae for photobiological hydrogen production. The designer transgenic algae includes at least two transgenes for enhanced photobiological H2 production wherein a first transgene serves as a genetic switch that can controls photosystem II (PSII) oxygen evolution and a second transgene encodes for creation of free proton channels in the algal photosynthetic membrane. In one embodiment, the algae includes a DNA construct having polymerase chain reaction forward primer (302), a inducible promoter (304), a PSII-iRNA sequence (306), a terminator (308), and a PCR reverse primer (310). In other embodiments, the PSII-iRNA sequence (306) is replaced with a CF1-iRNA sequence (312), a streptomycin-production gene (314), a targeting sequence (316) followed by a proton-channel producing gene (318), or a PSII-producing gene (320). In one embodiment, a photo-bioreactor and gas-product separation and utilization system produce photobiological H2 from the switchable PSII designer alga.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

This invention pertains to a switchable photosystem-II (PSII) designer organism that is specifically designed for enhanced photobiological production of molecular hydrogen (H2). The various embodiments include (1) application of a genetic switch that can control the expression of PSII activity for production of H2without O2production and (2) combination of switchable PSII with programmable proton channels in algal photosynthetic membrane that further enhance photobiological H2production. In particular, this invention pertains to a switchable PSII designer alga for enhanced photobiological H2production. Various embodiments solves the following six major problems that currently challenge those in the field of photobiological H2production: (1) drainage of electrons by O2, (2) poisoning of the hydrogenase enzyme by O2, (3) the mixed H2and O2gas-product separation and safety issues, (4) restriction of photosynthetic H2production by accumulation of a proton gradient, (5) competitive inhibition of photosynthetic H2production by CO2, and (6) requirement for bicarbonate binding at photosystem II (PSII) for efficient photosynthetic activity.

Algal (such asChlamydomonas reinhardtii, Platymonas subcordiformis, Chlorella fusca, Ankistrodesmus braunii, andScenedesmus obliquus) photosynthetic hydrogen (H2) production from water has tremendous potential to be a clean and renewable energy resource. As shown inFIG. 1, in the algal system, H2is produced through hydrogenase-catalyzed reduction of protons by the electrons generated from photosynthetic oxidation of water using sunlight energy. The net result is photoevolution of H2and O2from water (H2O). However, there are a number of technical issues that must be addressed before algal H2production can become practical. The following lists the six technical problems that currently challenge researchers and investors in the field of photosynthetic H2production: (1) drainage of electrons by O2, (2) poisoning of the hydrogenase enzyme by O2, (3) the mixed H2and O2gas-product separation and safety issues, (4) restriction of photosynthetic H2production by accumulation of a proton gradient, (5) competitive inhibition of photosynthetic H2production by CO2, and (6) requirement for bicarbonate binding at photosystem II (PSII) for efficient photosynthetic activity.

Of these six technical problems in the wild-type organism, the first three are all oxygen-related issues that must be solved in order for the algal H2-production technology to work. Here is the reason why the three oxygen-related issues must be solved in order for the algal H2-production technology to work well. In wild-type algae as illustrated inFIG. 1, photosynthetic water splitting under anaerobic condition can result in simultaneous production of H2and O2in the same cell. Therefore, the gas products in this case are a dangerous mixture of H2and O2that requires safe separation (problem 3). Furthermore, the O2produced in the alga can inhibit H2production by two mechanisms: acting as an electron acceptor [possibly through the RuBisco (which is also a known oxygenase) enzyme at the Calvin cycle] that drains the electrons away from the Fd/hydrogenase H2production pathway (problem 1), and poisoning the hydrogenase enzyme directly (problem 2).

The inhibition of algal H2production by O2is a serious problem that can be measured experimentally. As shown in the experimental data presented inFIG. 2, an introduction of merely 0.1000% O2(equivalent to 1000 ppm O2) results in a dramatic inhibition on the H2-production rate of the wild-type algaC. reinhardtii. The steady-state H2-production rate in the presence of 1000 ppm O2was 0.33 μmol of H2/mg Chl/hr, which is only about 2.8% (less than a 30th) of the full steady-state rate (12 μmol of H2/mg Chl/hr) before the introduction of the 0.1000% O2. Therefore, it is not practical to use the wild-type alga for production of H2and O2by photosynthetic water splitting. In order to realize the full potential of the algal H2-production mechanism, these oxygen-related problems must be solved.

The various embodiments overcome these three oxygen-related problems for enhanced H2production in an effective way by creating a designer alga that contains switchable PSII reaction centers for production of pure H2without O2production. Use of the designer switchable PSII algae in conjunction with the features of my designer proton-channel algae represents a significant photobiological H2-production technology in the field of renewable energy production. The application titled “Designer proton-channel transgenic algae for photobiological hydrogen production” and filed on the same day and by the same inventor as this application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. There are other approaches reported in the field of studies such as the “sulfur-deprivation”-based approach that are also attempted to solve the O2-related problems. The various embodiments are distinguished from the prior art by its innovative application of the emerging RNA interference technique with a genetic switch to selectively (and switchably) suppress PSII oxygen-evolution activity and create free proton channels in algal photosynthetic membrane. It provides a unique solution to both the oxygen-related problems and the proton-gradient-related issues for enhanced photobiological H2production. For example, the “sulfur-deprivation”-based physiological approach is not required here at all. With its features of switchable genetic expression of both PSII and proton channel in algal photosynthetic membrane, the designer alga can be used to solve all of the listed six problems that currently challenge researchers and investors in the field of photobiological H2production.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with various embodiments, there are provided designer transgenic algae comprising at least two transgenes for enhanced photobiological H2production wherein a first said transgene serves as a genetic switch that controls photosystem II (PSII) oxygen evolution and a second said transgene encodes for creation of free proton channels in algal photosynthetic membranes, such as thylakoid membrane. The switchable PSII designer algae, combined with the benefits of programmable creation of free proton channels in algal photosynthetic membranes, provides an effective new solution for efficient and robust photobiological H2production, by solving all the six major problems that currently challenge those in the field of photosynthetic H2production.

The various embodiments teach how to create the switchable PSII designer algae combined with creation of free proton channels in algal photosynthetic membranes. In one embodiment, the switchable PSII designer feature is accomplished by creation and use of a genetically transmittable factor that inducibly controls the expression of PSII oxygen-evolving activity. The newly-emerging interference RNA technique is applied in creating and using a piece of designer PSII interfering RNA (iRNA) to programmably suppress the expression of PSII oxygen-evolving activity to solve the three O2-related problems in relation to algal H2production. When the genetic background of a PSII deficient mutant is employed, such as the use of a PSII deletion mutant, as a host organism to create the designer algae, a designer PSII (e.g., OEE1) producing gene that inducibly complements the corresponding PSII (e.g., OEE1) deficiency is used also as a genetic switch to control the PSII oxygen-evolution activity. Meanwhile, inducible creation of free proton channels in algal photosynthetic thylakoid membranes is also described with innovative application of a designer CF1-iRNA gene in addition to targeted genetic insertion of designer polypeptide proton channels with synthetic genes.

In one embodiment, the switchable PSII designer algae are used with a photo-bioreactor and gas-product separation and utilization system for enhanced photobiological H2production. The various embodiments effectively provide a single-organism (switchable PSII designer alga) two-stage H2-production technology. In various embodiments, organic reserve, such as starch, is accumulated through photoautotrophic algal culture growth by normal oxygenic photosynthesis using CO2and sunlight energy in an aerobic reactor. When the algal culture is grown and significant amounts of organic reserves are accumulated in the designer alga cells, the culture is placed under anaerobic conditions to express the designer genes to shut off PSII oxygen evolution and create proton channels in algal thylakoid membrane so that the algae will produce H2by the metabolic (dark) and photosystem I (PSI)-driven (light) H2production pathways without production of O2. The source of electrons for the metabolic and PSI-driven H2production is organic reserves such as starch that are made in the previous cycle of oxygenic photosynthetic CO2fixation. Since the gas product is essentially pure H2and CO2without O2because of the inactivation of PSII O2-evolution activity, an O2-free condition in an algal bioreactor is easily maintained for H2production and all of the O2-related problems are thus eliminated along with the elimination of the proton-gradient-related problems by a proton channel. The net result is the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water. The maximal theoretical sunlight-to-H2energy conversion efficiency for this designer alga-two-stage H2-production process is about 5%.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with various embodiments, there are provided designer transgenic algae comprising two transgenes (FIGS. 3A and 3B) for enhanced photobiological H2production wherein a first said transgene serves as a genetic switch that controls photosystem II (PSII) oxygen evolution and a second said transgene encodes for creation of free proton channels in algal photosynthetic membranes, such as thylakoid membrane.

In one embodiment, the switchable PSII designer alga is created by transformation of a host alga with at least one DNA construct300-A as shown inFIG. 3Athat contains a designer PSII suppressor gene linked with an externally inducible promoter such as a redox-condition-sensitive hydrogenase promoter serving as a genetic switch. According to this embodiment, the designer PSII suppressor is a PSII iRNA that can specifically suppress PSII oxygen evolution activity. The general design of the PSII suppressor gene is shown in its DNA construct300-A, which comprises the following components: a) a polymerase chain reaction forward (PCR FD) primer302; b) an externally inducible promoter304; c) a PSII-iRNA sequence306; d) a transcription terminator308; and e) a PCR reverse (RE) primer310.

A second transgene, illustrated inFIG. 3B, that encodes an inducible CF1-iRNA is added also into genome of the designer alga to create free CF0proton channels in algal photosynthetic membranes by suppressing the expression of CF1along with the suppression of PSII and the induction of the hydrogenase under certain specific conditions, such as the anaerobic conditions. The general design of the DNA construct300-B for the CF1suppressor gene is shown inFIG. 3B, which includes the following components: a) a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) forward (FD) primer302; b) an externally inducible promoter304; c) a CF1-iRNA sequence312; d) a transcription terminator308; and e) a PCR reverse (RE) primer310.

In various embodiments, the components a) through e)302,304,306,308,310,312of the DNA constructs300-A,300-B are adjusted to suit for certain specific conditions. In practice, any of the components a) through e)302,304,306,308,310of these DNA constructs300-A are applied in full or in part, and/or in any adjusted combination as well to achieve more desirable results.

Hydrogenase promoter is an anaerobic inducible promoter that serves as a genetic switch to desirably control the expression of the designer transgenes (FIGS. 3A-3D). Therefore, the designer transgenes can be expressed only under certain specific conditions, such as the anaerobic conditions. Under aerobic conditions, the designer transgenes are normally not expressed, except for the designer PSII-producing gene illustrated inFIG. 3E. Consequently, as illustrated inFIG. 4A, the switchable PSII designer alga performs autotrophic photosynthesis using ambient-air CO2as the carbon source and grows normally, just like a wild-type organism under aerobic conditions, such as in an open pond. When the algal culture is grown and ready for H2production (when sufficient amounts of starch are accumulated through the normal oxygenic photosynthetic fixation of CO2), the algal cells are placed under anaerobic conditions to express the designer transgenes simultaneously with the induction of the hydrogenase enzyme because of the use of the hydrogenase promoter.

As illustrated inFIG. 4B, the expression of the PSII inhibitor gene (as illustrated inFIG. 3A) will shut off PSII O2evolution so that the alga will produce H2by the metabolic (dark) and PSI-driven (light) H2production pathways without production of O2. The source of electrons for the metabolic and PSI-driven H2production is organic reserves, such as starch (as illustrated inFIG. 4B) that are made in the previous cycle of oxygenic photosynthetic CO2fixation (FIG. 4A). Since the gas product in the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 4Bis essentially pure H2and CO2without O2, the problems of H2and O2mixture (including problems 1-3: drainage of electrons by O2, poisoning of the hydrogenase enzyme by O2, and the gas-separation and safety issues) are eliminated with the designer algae.

According to one embodiment, use of a proton channel in the algal photosynthetic thylakoid membrane also enhances this mode of PSI-driven H2production from organic reserves. As illustrated inFIG. 4B, operation of the PSI-driven H2-production mechanism results in translocation of protons across the thylakoid membrane from the stroma into the lumen as the reducing power (NADH, NADPH, FADH) from degradation of organic reserves enters the PQ pool near the Qrsite of Cyt b/f complex and is then oxidized at the Qosite. If a free proton-conducting channel is not present in the thylakoid membrane, protons could accumulate at the lumen (inside the thylakoids) and impede the electron transport for this PSI-driven H2production. Furthermore, the presence of a free proton-conducting channel in algal thylakoid membrane will ensure the inactivation of the Calvin-cycle activity that could compete with the Fd/hydrogenase H2-production pathway for the electrons derived from the PSI-driven decomposition of the organic reserves. Therefore, in one embodiment it is a practice to incorporate the benefits of a programmable thylakoid proton channel into the switchable-PSII designer alga. This embodiment is achieved by delivery of a CF1-suppressor transgene312, as illustrated inFIG. 3B, also into the genome of the designer alga to create free CFoproton channels in algal photosynthetic membranes by inhibiting the expression of CF1with a CF1-iRNA that the CF1-suppressor transgene can produce under the anaerobic conditions upon the induction of the hydrogenase along with the suppression of PSII-oxygen-evolving activity.

Therefore, the co-expression of the PSII suppressor306, the CF1suppressor312, and hydrogenase makes this alga a more efficient and robust system for production of H2. This organism contains normal mitochondria, which can use the reducing power (NADH) from organic reserves (and/or exogenous substrates such as acetate) to power the cell immediately after its return to aerobic conditions. Therefore, when the algal cell is returned to aerobic conditions after its use under anaerobic conditions for production of H2, the cell will stop generating non-functional PSII in thylakoid membranes and start to restore its normal photoautotrophic capability by synthesizing functional thylakoids. Consequently, it is possible to use this type of genetically transformed organism for repeated cycles of photoautotrophic culture growth (starch accumulation) under normal aerobic conditions (FIG. 4A) and efficient production of H2under anaerobic conditions (FIG. 4B).

One aspect is the innovative application of a genetic switch to control the expression of PSII activity for production of H2without the three O2problems (illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4B). This switchability is accomplished through application of an externally inducible promoter such as a hydrogenase promoter. To function as intended, the designer transgenes (FIGS. 3A-3D) must be inducibly expressed under anaerobic conditions. In one embodiment, an algal hydrogenase promoter, such as the promoter of the hydrogenase gene (Hyd1) ofChlamydomonas reinhardtii, is used as an effective genetic switch to control the expression of the designer genes to the exact time and conditions where they are needed for enhanced photobiological H2production as illustrated inFIG. 4B. That is, the designer transgenes will be synthesized only at the time when the hydrogenase is induced and ready for H2production under anaerobic conditions. Therefore, the hydrogenase promoter can be employed as an inducible promoter for each of the DNA constructs300-A,300-B,300-C,300-D to serve as a genetic switch to control the expression of the designer genes. The reason that the designer alga can perform autotrophic photosynthesis using CO2as the carbon source under aerobic condition (illustrated inFIG. 4A) is because the designer genes (illustrated inFIGS. 3A,3B,3C,3D) are not expressed under aerobic conditions owing to the use of a hydrogenase promoter, which can be turned on only under the anaerobic conditions when needed for photobiological H2production.

In addition to the hydrogenase promoter, there are other promoters that can also be used to construct the desired genetic switch for designer genes (FIGS. 3A,3B,3C,3D).Chlamydomonascells contain several nuclear genes that are coordinately induced under anaerobic conditions. These include the hydrogenase structural gene itself (Hyd1), the Cyc6 gene encoding the apoprotein of Cytochrome C6, and the Cpx1 gene encoding coprogen oxidase. The regulatory regions for the latter two have been well characterized, and a region of ˜100 bp proves sufficient to confer regulation by anaerobiosis in synthetic gene constructs. The promoter strengths of these three genes vary considerably; each may thus be selected to control the expression levels of the designer genes (FIGS. 3A,3B,3C,3D) for enhanced photobiological production of H2. There are a number of other regulated promoters that can also be used and/or modified to serve as the genetic switches. For example, the nitrate reductase (Nia1) promoter which is induced by growth in nitrate medium and repressed in nitrate-deficient but ammonium-containing medium can be used to control the expression of certain designer genes, such as the designer PSII-producing gene300-E illustrated inFIG. 3E, according to the concentration levels of nitrate in a culture medium as well. Therefore, inducible promoters that can be used and/or modified to serve for this purpose include, but are not limited to, hydrogenase promoters, Cytochrome C6(Cyc6) promoter, Nia1 promoter, CabII-1 promoter, Ca1 promoter, Ca2 promoter, coprogen oxidase promoter, and/or their analogs and modified designer sequences. Use of these externally inducible promoters can also create varieties of designer algae.

The PSII-iRNA DNA sequence306(FIG. 3A) and the CF1-iRNA DNA fragment312(FIG. 3B) are artificially designed based on the principle of the emerging RNA interference technique. The RNA interference technique uses a piece of interfering RNA (iRNA) that can specifically bind with the mRNA of a particular gene, thus inhibiting (suppressing) the translation of the gene-specific mRNA to protein. Inactivation of PSII oxygen evolution activity is achieved by suppressing the expression of any key PSII components including its OEE1, D1, CP47, CP43, or D2 protein subunits. Therefore, the envisioned PSII iRNA further includes, but is not limited to, OEE1 iRNA, D1 iRNA, CP47 iRNA, CP43 iRNA and/or D2 iRNA. For example, the OEE1 subunit is a key component of the PSII oxygen-evolving complex (OEC) that is directly responsible for the oxygen evolution process. It is conceivable that deletion (suppression by an OEE1-specific iRNA) of the OEE1 subunit results in an OEE1-deficient PSII that is no longer able to evolve molecular oxygen by oxidation of water. The gene that encodes for the OEE1 subunit is PsbO (also known as Psb1), which is a nuclear DNA that can be used with the hydrogenase promoter. Therefore, an anti-sense OEE1 DNA can be designed for generation of an anti-sense mRNA (iRNA) that can inhibit the synthesis of the OEE1 subunit by binding with the normal OEE1 mRNA. Unlike in the mammalian systems, where 21-nt probes are often used to target mRNA for inhibition, the iRNA in microbes (including the host organismChlamydomonas reinhardtii) can be longer segments to be more gene-specific. It is one practice to consider the following three criteria in designing the DNA sequence of the PSII suppressor (such as OEE1 iRNA): (a) the iRNA is a contiguous segment of the PSII subunit (e.g., OEE1) mRNA, typically with a length range of about 20-1200 base pairs; (b) the iRNA is specific to the PSII subunit (e.g., OEE1), i.e., any significant portion of the iRNA does not have high sequence identity to part of an RNA of any other genes in the host organism such asChlamydomonas reinhardtii; (c) the iRNA does not have significant self complimentarity to form stable secondary structure that prevents hybridization with the PSII subunit (e.g., OEE1) mRNA. Because such a designed DNA fragment does not have any significant sequence similarity to other known genes, it (when transformed into the host alga) is able to produce an iRNA that specifically binds with normal mRNA of OEE1 thus selectively inhibiting the translation of the OEE1 mRNA into its protein. The CF1-iRNA sequence312is designed with similar principles. Therefore, the iRNA technique can be applied in conjunction with an inducible promoter, such as the hydrogenase promoter, as a genetic switch to create a desirable switchable-PSII designer alga for improved photobiological H2production.

In the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 3A and 3B, each of the designer-suppressor DNA constructs300-A,300-B also contains a terminator308after the designer suppressor encoding sequence. The terminator DNA sequence308, which is designed based on the sequences of natural gene terminators, is to ensure that the transcription of said designer gene is properly terminated to produce an exact designer iRNA as desired.

Each of the two DNA constructs300-A,300-B shown inFIGS. 3A and 3Bincludes a pair of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers: a PCR forward primer (PCR FD primer)302and a PCR reverse primer (PCR RE primer)310located respectively at the beginning (the 3' end) and at the other end of said DNA construct300-A,300-B. This pair of PCR primers302,310is designed to provide certain convenience when needed for relatively easy PCR amplification of a given designer DNA construct300, which is helpful not only during and after the designer DNA construct300is synthesized in preparation for gene transformation, but also after the designer DNA construct300is delivered into the genome of a host alga for verification of the designer transgene in the transformants. For example, after the transformation of the designer gene is accomplished in aChlamydomonas reinhardtii-arg7 host cell using the techniques of electroporation and argininosuccinate lyase (arg7) complementation screening, the resulting transformants are analyzed by a PCR DNA assay of their nuclear DNA using this pair of PCR primers302,310to verify whether the entire DNA construct300-A ofFIG. 3Ais successfully incorporated into the genome of a given transformant. When the nuclear DNA PCR assay of a transformant can generate a PCR product that matches with the predicted DNA size and sequence according to the designer DNA construct300-A, the successful incorporation of the designer gene (DNA construct) into the genome of the transformant is verified.

Therefore, the various embodiments also teach the associated method to effectively create the designer transgenic alga for photobiological H2production. This method, in one embodiment, includes the following steps: a) Selecting appropriate host algae with respect to their genetic backgrounds and special features in relation to H2production; b) Genetically deleting any H2-consuming activities such as the uptake-hydrogenase activities in the selected host algae; c) Introducing the nucleic acid constructs of the designer genes into the genome of said host algae; d) Verifying the incorporation of the designer genes in the transformed algae with DNA PCR assays using the said PCR primers of the designer DNA constructs (FIGS. 3A and 3B); e) Measuring and verifying the designer algae features such as the inducible expression of the designer PSII-iRNA and CF1-iRNA for enhanced photobiological H2production by assays of iRNA, PSII, CF1, and H2-production characteristics according to the specific designer features of the DNA constructs300-A,300-B (FIGS. 3A and 3B).

The above method for creating the designer transgenic algae to increase photobiological H2production efficiency can also be repeatedly applied for a plurality of operational cycles to achieve more desirable results. In various embodiments, any of the steps a) through e)302,304,306,312,308,310of this method described above are adjusted to suit for certain specific conditions. In practice, any of the steps a) through e)302,304,306,312,308,310of the method are applied in full or in part, and/or in any adjusted combination as well.

In various embodiments, the host organisms for transformation of the designer genes (FIGS. 3A,3B,3C,3D) to create the transgenic designer photosynthetic organism are selected from the group that includes green algae, brown algae, red algae, blue-green algae, marine algae, freshwater algae, cold-tolerant algal strains, heat-tolerant algal strains, H2-consuming-activity-deleted algal strains, uptake-hydrogenase-deleted algal strains, PSII-deficient algal strains, and combinations thereof.Chlamydomonas reinhardtiiis a green alga that has had its genome sequenced. Therefore, it is a good model organism although the technology is applicable to any of the algae mentioned above for enhanced photobiological H2production. Proper selection of host organisms for their genetic backgrounds and certain special features is also beneficial. For example, the switchable PSII designer alga created from a cold-tolerant host strain, such asChlamydomonascold strain CCMG1619 that has been characterized to produce H2as cold as 4° C., enables the use even in cold seasons or regions such as Canada. Meanwhile, the switchable PSII designer alga created from a thermophilic photosynthetic organism, such asSynechococcus bigranulatus, enables use into the hot seasons or areas such as Mexico and the Southwestern region of the United States including Nevada, California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas where the weather temperature can often be high. Furthermore, the switchable PSII designer alga created from a marine alga, such asPlatymonas subcordiformis, enables using seawater, while the designer alga created from a freshwater alga, such asChlamydomonas reinhardtii, uses freshwater.

Another feature is that various embodiments of the designer algae are devoid of any H2-consuming activity that is not desirable for net H2production. That is, the switchable PSII designer algae will not consume any H2that it can produce. This feature, which further enhances the net efficiency for photobiological H2production, is incorporated by genetic inactivation or deletion of the H2-consuming activity. The uptake hydrogenase activity is generally responsible for the H2-consuming activity in algae. Therefore, this additional feature is incorporated by creating the designer algae from a host alga that has its uptake hydrogenase activity genetically deleted. Additional optional features of the designer algae include the benefits of reduced chlorophyll-antenna size which has been demonstrated to provide higher photosynthetic productivity and O2-tolerant hydrogenase like the [NiFe] hydrogenases ofRalstonia eutropha, which can function under aerobic conditions. In various embodiments, these optional features are incorporated into the designer algae also by use of an O2-tolerant hydrogenase and/or chlorophyll antenna-deficient mutant (e.g.,Chlamydomonas reinhardtiiDS521) as a host organism for gene transformation with the designer DNA constructs300(FIGS. 3A,3B,3C,3D,3E).

Examples of the designer PSII iRNA genes (DNA constructs) are shown in SEQ ID NOS: 1, 2, and 3. SEQ ID NO: 1 presents example 1 of a detailed DNA construct for a designer PSII/OEE1 suppressor gene (FIG. 3A) comprising: a PCR FD primer (sequence 1-20), a 282-bp HydA1 promoter (21-302), an Xho I NdeI site (303-311), a 405-bp antisense OEE1-iRNA sequence (312-716), an XbaI site (717-725), an RbcS2 terminator (726-940), and a PCR RE primer (941-967). This DNA construct (example 1) has been delivered into the nuclear genome of aChlamydomonas reinhardtii-arg7 host cell using the techniques of electroporation and argininosuccinate lyase (arg7) complementation screening to create the switchable PSII designer alga. This designer gene is designed to encode a 405-bp antisense OEE1-iRNA to bind with the normal mRNA of OEE1, thus blocking (inhibiting) the translation of the mRNA into OEE1 protein. The expression of the PSII/OEE1-iRNA inhibitor is controlled by the use of the 282-bp HydA1 promoter. The RbcS2 terminator is used to properly terminate the transcription of the designer PSII/OEE1 suppressor gene to create an exact PSII/OEE1 iRNA as intended. The restriction sites (Xho I NdeI and XbaI site) are included to make the DNA construct into modular components so that each modular component could be flexibly taken out for modification and/or replacement. The PCR FD primer located at the beginning end and the PCR RE primer at the other end of the DNA construct (sequences 1-20 and 941-967) are selected from the sequence of a Human actin gene and can be paired each other. Blasting the sequences againstChlamydomonasGenBank found no homologous sequences of them. Therefore, they can be used for DNA PCR assays to detect and verify the designer PSII/OEE1-iRNA gene in a given transformant.

SEQ ID NO: 2 presents example 2 of a detailed DNA construct for a designer PSII/OEE1 suppressor gene (FIG. 3A) comprising: a PCR FD primer (sequence 1-20), a 282-bp HydA1 promoter (21-302), an Xho I NdeI site (303-311), an OEE1-iRNA sequence (312-1401), an XbaI site (1402-1410), an RbcS2 terminator (1411-1633), and a PCR RE primer (1634-1652). This designer PSII/OEE1-iRNA gene (example 2) is quite similar to example 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), except that the designer OEE1-iRNA DNA is a 1090-bp long sequence (312-1401) that an antisenes foldable loop structure covers not only the 3 exons but also the 2 introns of the OEE1 gene. This designer PSII/OEE1-iRNA gene (SEQ ID NO: 2) has also been successfully delivered into the nuclear genome of aChlamydomonas reinhardtii-arg7 host cell using the techniques of electroporation and argininosuccinate lyase (arg7) complementation screening to create the switchable designer alga.

SEQ ID NO: 3 presents example 3 of a detailed DNA construct for a designer PSII/OEE1 suppressor gene (FIG. 3A) comprising: a PCR FD primer (sequence 1-20), a 458-bp HydA1 promoter (21-478), a 569-bp OEE1-iRNA sequence (479-1047), an RbcS2 terminator (1048-1270), and a PCR RE primer (1271-1289). This designer PSII/OEE1-iRNA gene (example 3) is also similar to example 1, except that a 458-bp HydA1 promoter (21-478) is used and the OEE1-iRNA sequence (479-1047) is a 569-bp antisense DNA sequence of exon 1 and exon 2 for splicing of intron 2. This designer PSSI/OEE1 suppressor gene (SEQ ID NO: 3) has also been successfully delivered into the nuclear genome of an algal host cell to create the switchable PSII designer alga.

There are a number of embodiments for constructing the switchable PSII designer algae by creating and/or using a genetically transmittable factor that can inducibly or programmably control PSII activity. That is, to create and/or use a factor that can be genetically encoded to programmably control PSII activity to solve the O2-related problems in photobiological H2production. An additional example on how to create the switchable PSII designer algae is described as follows. This example utilizes a hydrogenase promoter-linked streptomycin-production gene (FIG. 3C) to also create a switchable PSII designer alga for production of H2without the three oxygen-related problems. It has been demonstrated that streptomycin is an inhibitor to the synthesis of a key PSII component, the D1 protein. Without this D1 protein, PSII will no longer be able to perform photosynthetic water splitting to produce O2. The gene for streptomycin biosynthesis has already been cloned. Therefore, it is now possible by application of synthetic biology techniques to use this streptomycin-production gene in conjunction with the hydrogenase promoter as a programmable switch to control PSII activity in photosynthetic organisms.FIG. 3Cpresents a DNA construct300-C that can be genetically transferred into a host alga to create a switchable PSII designer alga with a phenotype similar to that illustrated inFIGS. 4A and 4B. That is, this designer alga containing the DNA construct300-C can also grow and accumulate organic reserves (such as starch) by autotrophic photosynthesis using CO2under aerobic conditions, such as in an open pond (FIG. 4A). When the algal culture is grown and ready for H2production, the streptomycin-production gene314is then expressed simultaneously with the induction of the hydrogenase enzyme under anaerobic conditions. The expression of the streptomycin-production gene314inhibits the synthesis of the D1 protein, thus leading to gradual inactivation of PSII O2evolution and activation of H2production without O2production (FIG. 4B).

Another aspect is the combination of switchable PSII with programmable proton channel and additional features. In one embodiment, it is a preferred practice to apply the feature of the switchable PSII in combination with the benefits of creating a free proton channel in algal photosynthetic thylakoid membrane (FIG. 4B). Proton channels are created not only by selectively suppressing the expression of CF1(FIG. 4B) using a designer CF1-iRNA gene (FIG. 3B), but also, in another embodiment, by targeted genetic insertion of proton channels such as polypeptide (or protein) pores into algal photosynthetic thylakoid membrane (FIG. 4C) using a designer proton-channel gene (FIG. 3D). The detailed arts for targeted genetic insertion of proton channels into algal photosynthetic membrane have now been reported by this inventor in a separate patent application for a different invention. Some of the arts can be used here as an optional method to create proton channels in algal photosynthetic thylakoid membrane under H2-producing conditions (FIG. 4C). Briefly, as shown in the DNA construct300-D of a designer proton-channel gene (FIG. 3D), a designer proton-channel producing gene318is used with a targeting sequence316and an inducible promoter304, such as a hydrogenase promoter. The molecular structure (and thus the DNA sequence) of a polypeptide proton channel is designed according to certain natural proton-channel structures at nanometer scale: melittin, gramicidin, CFoprotein (the proton channel of chloroplast coupling factor CFoCF1), Foprotein (the proton-channel structure of mitochondrial coupling factor FoF1), and their analogs. Since it is a beneficial to keep the capability of recyclable grow for a switchable PSII designer, accomplishing targeted insertion of the designer proton channels specifically into algal thylakoid membrane (so that the remaining parts of a designer alga cell including its mitochondria and cell membrane are kept intact) is important here. Therefore, in one embodiment, it is a preferred practice to properly select and/or design the targeting DNA sequence to guide the insertion of proton channels into algal photosynthetic thylakoid membrane along the induction of the hydrogenase. The targeting sequences that can be used and/or modified for this purpose include (but are not limited to) the transit-peptide sequences of: plastocyanin apoprotein (Pcy1), the LhcII apoproteins, OEE1 apoprotein (PsbO), OEE2 apoprotein (PsbP), OEE3 apoprotein (PsbQ), hydrogenase apoproteins (such as Hyd1), PSII-T apoprotein (PsbT), PSII-S apoprotein (PsbS), PSII-W apoprotein (PsbW), CFoCF1subunit-γ apoprotein (AtpC), CFoCF1subunit-δ apoprotein (AtpD), CFoCF1subunit-II apoprotein (AtpG), photosystem I (PSI) apoproteins (such as, of genes PsaD, PsaE, PsaF, PsaG, PasH, and PsaK), Rubisco SSU apoproteins (such as RbcS2), chloroplast transit-peptide sequences of nuclear genes, and/or their analogs and modified designer sequences.

The benefits of a proton channel created with a designer proton-channel producing gene (FIG. 3D) are similar to those created with a designer CF1-iRNA gene while the features of the switchable PSII created with a designer PSII-iRNA gene are also similar to those created with a designer streptomycin (PSII inhibitor) producing gene. Therefore, in various embodiments, these four types of designer genes (FIGS. 3A,3B,3C, and3D) are applied in various combinations to create the switchable PSII designer algae that also combine with the benefits of a free proton channel in algal photosynthetic thylakoid membranes under H2-producing conditions as shown inFIGS. 4B and 4C. This combination of benefits is also achieved by algal hybridization of a switchable PSII designer alga with another transformed alga that contains a designer proton-channel gene (FIG. 3Bor3D), in addition to transformation of a designer proton-channel gene using a switchable PSII designer alga as a host organism.

As mentioned previously, operation of the PSI-driven H2-production mechanism results in translocation of protons across thylakoid membrane from the stroma into the lumen as the reducing power (NADH, NADPH, and FADH) from degradation of organic reserves enters the PQ pool near the Qrsite of Cyt b/f complex and is then oxidized at the Qosite. If a free proton-conducting channel does not exist, protons could accumulate inside the thylakoids and impede the electron transport for this PSI-driven H2production. Use of a free proton-conducting channel eliminates the restriction of photosynthetic H2production by proton accumulation (problem 4). Furthermore, the presence of a free proton-conducting channel in algal thylakoid membrane also ensures the needed inactivation of the Calvin-cycle activity (which is associated with problems 5, 6, and 1) so that CO2and/or O2no longer act as a terminal electron acceptor through the Calvin-cycle activity to compete with the Fd/hydrogenase H2-production pathway for the electrons derived from the PSI-driven decomposition of the organic reserves. Consequently, incorporation of a proton channel helps eliminate the four proton-gradient-related problems (1, 4, 5, and 6), while use of the switchable PSII solves the three O2-related problems (1, 2, 3). Therefore, the combination of a switchable PSII with a proton channel in the switchable PSII designer alga (FIGS. 4B and 4C) ensures to solve all the six technical problems that currently challenge those in the field of photobiological H2production: (1) drainage of electrons by O2, (2) poisoning of the hydrogenase enzyme by O2, (3) the mixed H2and O2gas-product separation and safety issues, (4) restriction of photosynthetic H2production by accumulation of a proton gradient, (5) competitive inhibition of photosynthetic H2production by CO2, and (6) requirement for bicarbonate binding at photosystem II (PSII) for efficient photosynthetic activity.

The various embodiments further teach how the switchable PSII designer algae are used with a photo-bioreactor and gas-product separation and utilization system500, as illustrated inFIG. 5, for enhanced photobiological H2production.FIG. 5illustrates one embodiment of a system500that includes an aerobic reactor502connected to an anaerobic reactor506. The aerobic reactor502contains a quantity of algal culture520in aerobic conditions. The anaerobic reactor506contains a quantity of algal culture518in anaerobic conditions. Both the aerobic reactor502and the anaerobic reactor506are exposed to light504, such as sunlight. The CO2and H2produced in the anaerobic reactor506are pulled through a H2separation membrane510by a vacuum pump508. The CO2on one side of the membrane510is transferred to the aerobic reactor502via line522. The H2on the opposite side of the membrane510is transferred to a H2storage tank512and the fuel cell514. The algal culture518in the anaerobic reactor506is transferred to the aerobic reactor502via line526when the algal culture518is exhausted. The algal culture520in the aerobic reactor502is transferred to the anaerobic reactor506via line524when the algal culture520is ready for H2production. Those skilled in the art will recognize that other configurations of a system500can be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention

A single-organism (switchable PSII designer alga) two-stage H2-production technology is illustrated. In the illustrated single-organism-two-stage H2-production system500, organic reserves, such as starch, are accumulated through photoautotrophic algal culture growth by normal oxygenic photosynthesis using CO2and sunlight energy504in an aerobic reactor502where CO2and H2O are converted into biomass materials such as starch [(CH2O)n] by the normal autotrophic photosynthesis as illustrated inFIG. 4A:
nCO2+nH2O→(CH2O)n+nO2(1)

When the algal culture520is grown and significant amounts of organic reserves are accumulated in the designer algal cells, the culture518is then placed under anaerobic conditions after flowing into an anaerobic reactor506so that the inducible promoter (such as hydrogenase promoter)-linked designer gene (FIG. 3Aor3C) of PSII suppressor (inhibitor) [such as a PSII iRNA or streptomycin] will then be expressed, simultaneously upon the induction of the hydrogenase enzyme. As illustrated inFIG. 4B, the expression of the PSII inhibitor gene will shut off PSII O2-evolution activity so that the alga will produce H2by the metabolic (dark) and PSI-driven (light) H2production pathways without production of O2with the following process reaction:
(CH2O)n+nH2O→2nH2+nCO2(2)

The source of electrons for the metabolic and PSI-driven H2production is organic reserves, such as starch (FIG. 4B) that are made in the previous cycle of oxygenic photosynthetic CO2fixation (FIG. 4A). Since the gas product in this case (FIG. 4B) is essentially pure H2and CO2without O2because of the inactivation of PSII O2-evolution activity, a O2-free condition in an algal bioreactor can now be easily maintained for H2production—all of the three O2-related problems (including problems 1-3: drainage of electrons by O2, poisoning of the hydrogenase enzyme by O2, and the gas-separation and safety issues) are thus eliminated. This algal H2-production system500does not require an O2-tolerant hydrogenase, neither does it require a H2-O2gas-separation process. Consequently, the algal H2-production process becomes more stable and efficient because both the drainage of electrons by O2and poisoning of the hydrogenase enzyme by O2does not occur with the designer algae.

In the anaerobic reactor506, a designer proton-channel producing gene (FIG. 3D) and/or designer CF1-suppressor gene (FIG. 3B) incorporated into the switchable PSII designer alga is expressed to create a free proton channel in algal photosynthetic thylakoid membrane along with the expression of the PSII suppressor gene upon induction of the hydrogenase. As shown inFIGS. 4Cand/or4B, the expression of a free proton channel in the algal photosynthetic thylakoid membrane greatly facilitates the needed flow of protons across the thylakoid membrane to further enhance the photobiological H2-production process.

According to the process reaction (2), the ratio of H2to CO2in the gas products should be about 2:1. That is, under an idealized condition, the gas products from the photobiological H2-production process in the anaerobic reactor506consists of about 67% H2and 33% CO2. As shown inFIG. 5, the pure H2and CO2gas products from this photobiological H2-production process in the anaerobic algal reactor is easily collected, separated, and stored/utilized with available engineering technologies including pipe lines with a pump508and nanometer-membrane gas separation system (or a commercial pressure-swing gas-separation system)510for separation of H2from CO2. It is worthwhile to note that the H2gas product from the photobiological H2-production process is completely free of carbon monoxide (CO) because there is absolutely no mechanism (no CO-producing enzyme) for any CO generation in the algae. The H2gas product from this process is enzymatically pure, which is perfect for fuel-cell514applications. Therefore, the H2gas product from this process can be immediately used by fuel-cell514operations to generate electricity and/or collected into storage tanks/hydrides512for cash sales. In the illustrated embodiment, the CO2gas product is fed into the algal culture medium520for photosynthetic conversion back into biomass in the aerobic reactor502. In various embodiments, the O2gas product from the aerobic algal reactor502is collected in a tank516or vented into the atmosphere.

The ideal net result of the single-organism (switchable PSII designer alga) two-stage H2-production technology is the conversion of 2nH2O to 2nH2and nO2as a result of the summation of the two process reactions (1 and 2). That is, the net result is the production of hydrogen and oxygen from water with no CO2emission. The maximal theoretical sunlight-to-H2energy conversion efficiency for this single-organism-two-stage H2-production system500is estimated to be about 5%.

Another feature is that the designer alga provides the capability for repeated cycles of photoautotrophic culture growth (starch accumulation) under normal aerobic conditions in an aerobic reactor502(FIG. 4A) and efficient production of H2under anaerobic conditions in an anaerobic reactor506(FIG. 4B). The switchable-PSII designer alga contains normal mitochondria, which uses the reducing power (NADH) from organic reserves (and/or exogenous substrates, such as acetate) to power the cell immediately after its return to aerobic conditions. Therefore, when the algal cell is returned to aerobic conditions (aerobic reactor502) after its use under anaerobic conditions (anaerobic reactor506) for production of H2, the cell will stop suppressing PSII activity in thylakoid membranes and start to restore its normal photoautotrophic capability by synthesizing functional thylakoids. Consequently, it is possible to use this type of genetically transformed organism for repeated cycles of photoautotrophic culture growth (starch accumulation) under normal aerobic conditions in an aerobic reaction (FIG. 4A) and efficient production of H2under anaerobic conditions in an anaerobic reactor506(FIG. 4B). That is, this photobiological H2-production technology is operated continuously by circulating rejuvenated algal culture520from the aerobic reactor502into the anaerobic reactor506while circulating the used algal culture518from the anaerobic reactor506(after its use for H2production) into the aerobic reactor502for rejuvenation by synthesizing functional thylakoids and accumulating organic reserves (starch) through photosynthetic CO2fixation.

There are additional ways that the switchable PSII designer algae can be used. For example, the used algal culture from the anaerobic reactor506does not have to be circulated back to the aerobic reactor502. Instead, the used algal culture is taken out to be used as fertilizers or biomass feed stocks for other processing because the photoautotrophic growth of the designer switchable PSII designer alga in an aerobic reactor502continuously supplies algal cells to an anaerobic reactor506for the photobiological H2production (FIG. 5). Another way is to use switchable PSII designer algae as biocatalysts to produce H2from organic substrates. This is done by adding organic substrates, such as acetate, organic acids, ethanol, methanol, propanol, butanol, acetone, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, biomass materials, and combinations thereof, for quick photoheterotrophic growth in an aerobic reactor502and for photobiological H2production in an anaerobic reactor506.

There are additional embodiments that the switchable PSII designer algae is created and used. For example, in yet another embodiment, the switchable PSII designer algae is created by transformation of a PSII-deficient mutant using a complementary designer inducible promoter-linked PSII-producing gene320(illustrated inFIG. 3E). Many PSII-deficient or deletion mutants that lack certain PSII component(s) may be selectively used as a host organism to create the designer algae in this manner as well. Examples of PSII-deficient mutants that may be used as a host organism for creation of the said designer algae include, but are not limited to, an OEE1-deficient mutant, a D1-deficient mutant, a CP47-deficient mutant, a CP43 deficient mutant, and/or a D2-deficient mutant. The PSII genetic switch here is a designer PSII (e.g., OEE1) producing gene (FIG. 3E) that switchably restores the PSII (e.g., OEE1) function in a corresponding complementary PSII (e.g., OEE1) deficient mutant. The DNA construct300-E of a designer PSII gene (FIG. 3E) is similar to that ofFIG. 3A, except that a PSII encoding gene which complements the specific PSII deficiency is used instead of using a PSII iRNA (suppressor) sequence306. Examples of a PSII encoding sequence320for a designer PSII gene (FIG. 3E) includes, but are not limited to, the DNA sequences that can encode for an OEE1, a D1, a CP47, a CP43, and/or a D2 protein subunit that specifically complements its corresponding PSII deficiency in an OEE1-deficient mutant, a D1-deficient mutant, a CP47-deficient mutant, a CP43 deficient mutant, and/or a D2-deficient mutant. In one embodiment, the inducible promoter304for a designer PSII gene (FIG. 3E) is a promoter that is induced under aerobic conditions, such as the nitrate reductase (Nia1) promoter. This type of switchable PSII designer algae can also be combined with the feature of inducible creation of free proton channels in algal thylakoid membrane using a designer proton channel gene, such as that ofFIG. 3Band/orFIG. 3D. In one embodiment, the inducible promoter for a designer proton-channel producing gene (FIG. 3BorFIG. 3D) is an anaerobic promoter, such as a hydrogenase promoter. In this way, the designer alga that is created by genetic transfer of a designer proton channel gene (FIG. 3BorFIG. 3D) and a designer PSII (e.g., OEE1) gene (FIG. 3E) into a complementary PSII (e.g., OEE1) deficient mutant can be used for photobiological H2production. For example, the expression of an Nia1 promoter-linked designer OEE1 gene upon induction by addition of nitrate (NO3−) fertilizer in the algal culture medium in an aerobic reactor502restores the OEE1 function in the OEE1 deficient mutant (host organism) so that the alga performs normal oxygenic photosynthetic CO2fixation and grows photoautotrophically just like the other type of PSII designer algae described previously (FIG. 4A). When the algal culture is grown and accumulates large amounts of organic reserves, such as starch, by the oxygenic photosynthetic CO2fixation, the algal cells are placed into an anaerobic reactor506where ammonium (NH4+) fertilizer (but no NO3−) is present. The presence of NH4+ and the absence of NO3− inactivates the expression of the designer PSII (e.g., OEE1) gene because of the use of a nitrate reductase (Nia1) promoter, so that the PSII oxygen-evolution activity will gradually be inactivated. Meanwhile, the designer proton channel gene (FIG. 3BorFIG. 3D) is expressed in the anaerobic reactor506because of the use of an anaerobic promoter such as the hydrogenase promoter. The inactivation of the designer PSII (e.g., OEE1) gene expression and the activation of the designer proton-channel gene expression in the anaerobic reactor506results in a photobiological H2production mode that is similar to that illustrated inFIG. 4Band/orFIG. 4C, where pure H2and CO2are produced from organic reserves [(CH2O)n] and water (H2O) without the production of O2. This teaches how a switchable PSII designer alga can also be created from a PSII-deficient mutant using a complementary designer PSII gene as a genetic switch and how this type of switchable PSII designer algae in combination with a designer proton-channel gene may be used also for enhanced photobiological H2production.