title: Potential of proton-pumping rhodopsins: engineering photosystems into microorganisms.
abstract: A wide range of proton-pumping rhodopsins (PPRs) have been discovered in recent years. Using a synthetic biology approach, PPR photosystems with different features can be easily introduced in nonphotosynthetic microbial hosts. PPRs can provide hosts with the ability to harvest light and drive the sustainable production of biochemicals or biofuels. PPRs use light energy to generate an outward proton flux, and the resulting proton motive force can subsequently power cellular processes. Recently, the introduction of PPRs in microbial production hosts has successfully led to light-driven biotechnological conversions. In this review, we discuss relevant features of natural PPRs, evaluate reported biotechnological applications of microbial production hosts equipped with PPRs, and provide an outlook on future developments.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nico J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Claassens
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volpers
authors.forename: Vitor A P Martins
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: van der Oost
authors.forename: Willem M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: de Vos
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D056804:Biofuels; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D008027:Light; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D017494:Proton Pumps / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012243:Rhodopsin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D017494:Proton Pumps; D012243:Rhodopsin
keywords: metabolic engineering; proton-pumping rhodopsins; synthetic biology; synthetic phototrophy