Rhodopsin‐based light‐harvesting system for sustainable synthetic biology

Rhodopsins, a diverse class of light‐sensitive proteins found in various life domains, have attracted considerable interest for their potential applications in sustainable synthetic biology. These proteins exhibit remarkable photochemical properties, undergoing conformational changes upon light abso...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tu, W, Saeed, H, Huang, WE
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: Wiley Open Access 2024
Description
Summary:Rhodopsins, a diverse class of light‐sensitive proteins found in various life domains, have attracted considerable interest for their potential applications in sustainable synthetic biology. These proteins exhibit remarkable photochemical properties, undergoing conformational changes upon light absorption that drive a variety of biological processes. Exploiting rhodopsin's natural properties could pave the way for creating sustainable and energy‐efficient technologies. Rhodopsin‐based light‐harvesting systems offer innovative solutions to a few key challenges in sustainable engineering, from bioproduction to renewable energy conversion. In this opinion article, we explore the recent advancements and future possibilities of employing rhodopsins for sustainable engineering, underscoring the transformative potential of these biomolecules.