Photozyme-Catalyzed ATP Generation Based on ATP Synthase-Reconstituted Nanoarchitectonics

We demonstrate that ATP synthase-reconstituted proteoliposome coatings on the surface of microcapsules can realize photozyme-catalyzed oxidative phosphorylation. The microcapsules were assembled through layer-by-layer deposition of semiconducting graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets and polyelectrolytes. It is found that electrons from polyelectrolytes are transferred to g-C₃N₄ nanosheets, which enhances the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Thus, the encapsulated g-C₃N₄ nanosheets as the photozyme accelerate oxidation of glucose into gluconic acid to yield protons under light illumination. The outward transmembrane proton gradient is established to drive ATP synthase to synthesize adenosine triphosphate. With such an assembled system, light-driven oxidative phosphorylation is achieved. This indicates that an assembled photozyme can be used for oxidative phosphorylation, which creates an unusual way for chemical-to-biological energy conversion. Compared to conventional oxidative phosphorylation systems, such an artificial design enables higher energy conversion efficiency.