Molecular aspects of light to biomass to fuel conversion with microalgae

The process of light harvesting is one of the most crucial aspects for the efficiency of light to organic biomass conversion in phototrophic organisms and consequently plays a key role in research strategies aiming to improve photon conversion efficiency (PCE) rates in bioenergy-related approaches. In recent years it has been established that in particular the light harvesting antenna systems of the photosystems in plants and algae are regulated by a complex variety of control processes at the stage of transcription, of translation and also at the posttranslational level. In our group we investigate in different molecular aspects of light harvesting and energy dissipation control to increase sun to biomass production efficiencies for biofuel purposes. Recent results on the role of posttranscriptional regulation mechanisms for light harvesting antenna proteins of photosystem II (PSII) and on the role of certain LHCII subunits in the phototrophic unicellular eukaryotic model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii will be presented. In addition, latest results on the application of this organism for the production of the gaseous fuels hydrogen and methane will presented and the impact on the use of microalgae for future bio-refinery concepts will be discussed.