Towards engineered light-energy conversion in nonphotosynthetic microorganisms

Organisms have used light-energy conversion as a source of energy for millions of years. Synthetic biology has made it easier to combine desired components from multiple systems, and the ability to utilize sunlight as a sole energy source would be very beneficial in many biotechnology applications. With recent advances in synthetic biology, new techniques have made it possible to successfully add a simple light-energy conversion mechanism to a heterologous host. Greater understanding of molecular mechanisms of light-capture and CO₂ fixation will enable us to create systems combining biological and artificial components. This chapter will discuss the benefits of engineering light-energy conversion and carbon fixation in various nonphotosynthetic hosts, progress that has been made to date, limitations, and future directions.