Redox-active molecules in bacterial cultivation media produce photocurrent

Matthew C. Smith; Nathan S. Nasseri; Emile J. Morin; Jakkarin Limwongyut; Alex S. Moreland; Yaniv Shlosberg; Andrea S. Carlini

Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X (Dec 2024)

Redox-active molecules in bacterial cultivation media produce photocurrent

Matthew C. Smith,
Nathan S. Nasseri,
Emile J. Morin,
Jakkarin Limwongyut,
Alex S. Moreland,
Yaniv Shlosberg,
Andrea S. Carlini

Affiliations

Matthew C. Smith: Department of Physics, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Nathan S. Nasseri: Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Emile J. Morin: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Jakkarin Limwongyut: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States; Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Alex S. Moreland: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States; Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States
Yaniv Shlosberg: Swiss Institute for Dryland Environmental and Energy Research, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, 8499000, Israel; Corresponding author.
Andrea S. Carlini: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States; Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States; Interdisciplinary Program in Quantitative Biosciences (IPQB), University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States; Corresponding author. Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, University of California at Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, United States.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 21
p. 100558

Abstract

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Renewable energy concepts such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs) present a promising, yet intrinsically complex electrochemical approach for utilizing bacteria as an electron source. In this work, we show that just the cultivation media for bacterial growth, which is based on yeast extract, is sufficient for generating electrical current in a bio-electrochemical cell (BEC). We apply cyclic voltammetry and 2-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy to identify redox active molecules such as NADH, NAD+, and flavines that may play key roles in electron donation. Finally, we show that upon illumination, current production is enhanced 2-fold. This photocurrent is generated by a variety of metabolites capable of photochemical reduction, enabling them to donate electrons at the anode of the BEC.

Published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics: X

ISSN: 2590-1370 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Chemical technology: Biotechnology
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/biosensors-and-bioelectronics-x

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