Unicellular green algae are ideal model organisms for investigating the metabolic and biochemical processes of converting solar energy into fuels. Capture of solar energy occurs via photosynthesis (photosystem I, PSI, and photosystem II, PSII), which couples the catalytic oxidation of water to the photoelectrochemical generation of reduced carriers (ferredoxin, Fd) and a trans-membrane potential. Under aerobic growth, this stored energy drives CO2 fixation through the combined activities of Ferredoxin:NADP~+reductase (FNR), ATPase and Rubisco. Carboxylation of ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate by Rubisco provides the carbon precursors for the biosynthesis of lipids, alcohols and carbohydrates being explored as potential biofuels.
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