title: Molecular photovoltaics and the photoactivation of mammalian cells.
abstract: Photosynthetic reaction centers are integral plant membrane protein complexes and molecular photovoltaic structures. We report here that addition of Photosystem I (PSI)-proteoliposomes to retinoblastoma cells imparts photosensitivity to these mammalian cells, as demonstrated by light-induced movement of calcium ions. Control experiments with liposomes lacking PSI demonstrated no photosensitivity. The data demonstrate that PSI, a nanoscale molecular photovoltaic structure extracted from plants, can impart a photoresponse to mammalian cells in vitro.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuritz
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Elizabeth T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Humayun
authors.forename: Elias
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Greenbaum
mesh_terms: D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D002460:Cell Line; D004307:Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation; D006801:Humans; D008027:Light; D018462:Photobiology / Q000379:methods; D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000378:metabolism*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018724:Spinacia oleracea / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D045331:Photosystem I Protein Complex