Developing a Biologically-Inspired Molecular Solar Energy Conversion Device: Reaction of Solution and Protein-Bound Cobalamins with Carbon Dioxide and Halo-Organic Compounds

POSTER

Abstract

Our aim is to design and construct protein-based artificial photosynthetic systems that reduce carbon dioxide (CO$_{2})$ and toxic halo-organic compounds within the robust and adaptable ($\beta \alpha )_{8}$ TIM-barrel protein structure. The EutB subunit of the adenosylcobalamin-dependent enzyme, ethanolamine ammonia-lyase (EAL), from \textit{Salmonella typhimurium}, was selected as the protein template. The Co$^{I}$ forms of the native cobalamin (Cbl) cofactor and a derivative, cobinamide (Cbi), possess relatively low redox potentials that are commensurate with reduction of CO$_{2}$ and halo-organic compounds. Titanium$^{III}$ citrate and pulsed laser-excited 5'-deazariboflavin (5'-DRF) were used to reduce Cbl or Cbi. UV/visible absorption spectroscopy was used to monitor the reaction kinetics of reduced Cbl and Cbi with CO$_{2}$ and halo-organics, and 13C-NMR was used for product analysis. The results provide fundamental information for development of an organocobalt-based protein-catalytic device for stable fuels generation and toxic chemical remediation.

Authors

  • Wesley D. Robertson

    Department of Physics, Emory University

  • Milind Purohit

    Univ of South Carolina, Benedict College, Sc 29204, Univ. South Carolina, Benedict College, Univ South Carolina, GA Tech, Central Microscopy Research Facility, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA, Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA, Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, Department of Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, College of William \& Mary, Harvard University, Benedict College, SC 29204, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Applied Science, Bielefeld, Germany, Francis Marion University, Physics Dept., Emory University, Emory University, Formerly Emory University, currently UCLA, Physics Department, Georgia State University, Univ. of Georgia, Dept. of Chemistry, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina, Pr, Dr, Derpartment of Physics, Florida A\&M University, Tallahassee, FL-32307, Department of Physics, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Naval Research Laboratory, University of Alabama, Tsinghua University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Jagellonian Univ., Univ. of Bonn, North Carolina A\&T State Univ., North Carolina Central Univ., Duke Univ. and TUNL, Georgia State University, Dept of Physics, Emory University, Cell Biology Department, Emory University, Physics Department, Emory University, University of South Carolina

  • Milind Purohit

    Univ of South Carolina, Benedict College, Sc 29204, Univ. South Carolina, Benedict College, Univ South Carolina, GA Tech, Central Microscopy Research Facility, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA, Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda, Sri Lanka, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA, Department of Chemistry, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, Department of Physics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, College of William \& Mary, Harvard University, Benedict College, SC 29204, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Applied Science, Bielefeld, Germany, Francis Marion University, Physics Dept., Emory University, Emory University, Formerly Emory University, currently UCLA, Physics Department, Georgia State University, Univ. of Georgia, Dept. of Chemistry, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Argentina, Pr, Dr, Derpartment of Physics, Florida A\&M University, Tallahassee, FL-32307, Department of Physics, Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Naval Research Laboratory, University of Alabama, Tsinghua University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Vanderbilt University, Jagellonian Univ., Univ. of Bonn, North Carolina A\&T State Univ., North Carolina Central Univ., Duke Univ. and TUNL, Georgia State University, Dept of Physics, Emory University, Cell Biology Department, Emory University, Physics Department, Emory University, University of South Carolina