title: Photobiological hydrogen-producing systems.
abstract: Hydrogen photoproduction by micro-organisms combines the photosynthetic properties of oxygenic and non-oxygenic microbes with the activity of H2-producing enzymes in nature: hydrogenases and nitrogenases. The overall efficiency of the process depends on the separate efficiencies of photosynthesis and enzymatic catalysis. This tutorial review discusses the biochemical pathways for H2 production in different organisms, barriers to be overcome, and possible suggestions for integrating photobiological H2 production with fermentative, anaerobic systems for a potentially more efficient process.
authors.affiliation: National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 1617 Cole Blvd., Golden, CO 80401, USA. maria_ghirardi@nrel.gov
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Ghirardi
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubini
authors.forename: Jianping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Pin-Ching
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Maness
mesh_terms: D020418:Algal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019149:Bioreactors; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D006864:Hydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009591:Nitrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010788:Photosynthesis; D012244:Rhodospirillaceae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018511:Systems Integration
chemical_list: D020418:Algal Proteins; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006859:Hydrogen; D006864:Hydrogenase; D009591:Nitrogenase