Photosynthesis in action: Scientists capture moment plant converts energy

Scientists have announced they are closer than ever to the ‘holy grail’ of biochemistry: artificial photosynthesis.

By observing the first stage of the process in action, they say they’ve got a better understanding of how plans turn carbon dioxide into oxygen.

And ultimately it may be an important step to a future where artificial plants are created that are more efficient than their organic siblings.

The groundbreaking research published in Nature was carried out by an international team led by Arizona State University (ASU) scientists.

In the study they were able to observe the first snapshots of photosynthesis in action as it split water into protons, electrons and oxygen.

This is the process that maintains Earth’s oxygen atmosphere and ensures air is made up of the things we need to breathe it and survive.

Photosynthesis is one of the fundamental processes of life on Earth.

The early Earth contained no oxygen and was only converted to the oxygen-rich atmosphere we have today 2.5 billion years ago by the ‘invention’ of the water splitting process that occurs in photosynthesis.

This water splitting process is known as photosystem II (PSII), which produces the oxygen we breathe and ultimately keeps us alive.

The team, led by Professor Fromme, used the world’s most powerful X-ray flashlight at the US National Accelerator Laboratory to record still frames of the molecule complex PSII as it splits water into hydrogen and oxygen.

‘This is the very first scene of a molecular movie showing light-driven water splitting in photosystem II, the mechanism which makes all oxygen in the atmosphere,’ said Fromme.

Co-author Professor Henry Chapman from the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron (Desy) added: ‘A deeper understanding of photosynthesis could, for instance, aid the development of better solar cells and might advance the quest for biochemistry’s holy grail, artificial photosynthesis.’

To observe photosystem II in action, the team grew tiny nano-crystals of the photosystem II complex of bacteria that employ photosynthesis, cyanobacteria called Thermosynechococcus elongatus.

These crystals were illuminated with a visible laser to start the water splitting process, which is otherwise driven by sunlight.

The researchers used double light flashes to trigger the transition and, with the short and intenses X-ray laser flashes, were able to monitor how the molecular structure changed in the process.

This provided just enough time to freeze-frame the water splitting process for 30 quadrillionths of a second.

But that was enough to glean the snapshot of the process in action – and now they’ll be hoping to take the research further and see the rest of the photosynthesis process.

PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN A NUTHSELL

The process through which plants absorb light using chlorophyll to produce chemical energy in the form of oxygen, glucose and more is called photosynthesis.

During the process glucose is used by the plants to breathe or is converted into starch, while oxygen is released as a waste product – in turn giving us the air we need to breathe.

The rate of photosynthesis is altered by differing carbon dioxide levels and light intensity. If either is increased then the process will also increase, up to a limit.

Temperature also plays a part, with a higher temperature increasing the rate.

However if the temperature is too high, beyond 40C, the rate slows down.

Photosynthesis provides most of the energy necessary for life on Earth to exist.

But no way to artificially mimic the process has yet been created, leaving us dependent on plants to survive and thrive.