Ancient Protein May be Key to Unlocking Potential of Algae Biofuels
Posted by Tina Casey on 30 November, 2009
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This item was filled under [ Technology ]
In a discovery that should help sustainable algae biofuels make the leap from an exotic curiosity to a mainstream fuel, researchers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have identified an ancient protein that helps keep green algae from imbibing too much sunlight during photosynthesis.
The protein, called LHCSR, is a molecular self-regulator that protects algae from a damaging overdose of sun. With a better understanding of how the protein functions, it may be possible to engineer strains of algae that can be grown economically in artificial photosynthesis systems, providing more stability and efficiency than an open pond without the expense of a bioreactor.
