Programming Bio-Bio Electronic Interfaces for Light-Driven Interspecies Electron Transfer

Area of Science:

• Bioelectronics
• Synthetic Biology
• Microbial Consortia

Background:

• Living systems utilize redox networks for electron flow.
• Current bioelectronic platforms often use abiotic materials, limiting selective coupling.
• Need for interfaces enabling direct interspecies electron transfer (IET) between living cells.

Purpose of the Study:

• To engineer programmable living electronic interfaces for light-driven IET.
• To achieve selective cell-cell assembly and electron transfer between microorganisms.
• To enhance light-driven biocatalysis through direct bio-bio electronic architecture.

Main Methods:

• Integration of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) network into Synechococcus elongatus.
• Utilizing cucurbit[7]uril host-guest interactions for engineered Escherichia coli assembly.
• Employing redox-active mediators for energetically matched electron transfer pathways.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated programmable living electronic interfaces for light-driven IET.
• Achieved 83.7% IET efficiency using neutral red as an optimal mediator.
• Established direct electron transfer from photosynthetic Synechococcus elongatus to engineered Escherichia coli.

Conclusions:

• Developed an integrated bio-bio electronic architecture for living redox networks.
• Established a new paradigm for light-powered microbial consortia.
• Showcased potential for enhanced light-driven biocatalysis via direct interspecies electron transfer.