Electrodriven ATP Synthesis via Integration of a Reconstructed Thylakoid Membrane

Abstract

Nature produces ATP, the energy currency, by converting solar energy (photophosphorylation) and chemical energy (substrate‐level phosphorylation and oxidative phosphorylation). Green electricity, as a significant and sustainable energy carrier, plays a crucial role in achieving a carbon‐neutral society. In this work, we established and verified a novel electrodriven phosphorylation method. Spinach thylakoid membranes (TMs), enriched with ATPases, were isolated and constructed into planar TMs (pTMs) on a proton exchange membrane (PEM), effectively imparting the traditional PEM with the biological function of ATP regeneration. Following the optimization of TMs concentration and incubation time, the biological PEM was integrated into a two‐compartment electrochemical cell, where ATP was successfully synthesized by ATPase of pTMs, triggered by the proton gradient potential generated during electrochemical water splitting. When a constant voltage of 3 V was applied to the electrochemical cells, ATP was synthesized at a rate of 3.16 μM min‐1μgChl‐1, approximately twice the rate of ΔpH‐driven ATP synthesis. This design offers substantial potential for green energy applications in in vitro biotransformation (ivBT) systems.