chloroplast, parts One of the cells that allows plants and algae to photosynthesize is thought to have originated about a billion years ago, when photosynthetic cyanobacteria lived symbiotically within other primitive cellular organisms.
Today, replicating this development of photosynthetic capacity in other cells (inserting chloroplasts inside animal cells) was previously thought to be impossible. Animal cells recognize chloroplasts as foreign substances and digest them. However, a Japanese research team changed this idea. We have developed a technology to isolate photosynthetically active chloroplasts from primitive algae. Cyanidioski Zone Even when transplanted into Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, a type of cultured animal cell line, the function is maintained.
“To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that photosynthetic electron transport has been identified in chloroplasts transplanted into animal cells.” explain Yukihiro Matsunaga, professor at the University of Tokyo. Electron transport is a key process by which plants and algae generate chemical energy to support a variety of cellular functions.
Matsunaga’s research team succeeded in transferring chloroplasts by promoting phagocytosis by CHO cells, a process in which cells digest and decompose foreign substances.
The team then used fluorescence laser microscopy and super-resolution microscopy to capture cross-sectional images of the cells and observe how the cells and chloroplasts behaved. They found that chloroplasts taken up by CHO cells reside within the cytoplasm, the liquid that fills the cell’s interior, some of which surrounds the cell nucleus. After the chloroplasts were taken up, the CHO cells showed signs of behaving normally, including continuing to divide.
Further observations using electron microscopy showed that the structure of the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast, where the enzymes required for photosynthesis are located, was maintained for at least two days. Measurements of photosynthetic activity using microscopic imaging and pulse modulation also confirmed that electron transport for photosynthesis was normal during this period. However, on the 4th day after transplantation, the structure of the thylakoid membrane collapsed and the photosynthetic activity of chloroplasts significantly decreased.
This study opens up new possibilities in tissue engineering. Artificial organs, artificial meat, and sheets of skin made from multiple layers of cells have limited growth when the tissues are exposed to low oxygen levels. If we could add cells containing chloroplasts, it might be possible to oxygenate the tissue and promote growth simply by shining light on it.
However, this requires technology that allows transplanted chloroplasts to maintain photosynthetic activity within animal cells for longer. According to the research team, in the future, quantifying the amount of oxygen generated from transplanted chloroplasts and the amount of carbon dioxide fixed inside animal cells will also need to be done using a technique called isotope labeling.
The research team will now continue their research with the ultimate goal of creating ‘planar’ cells with plant capabilities. If possible, planar cells could be a game-changer for several industries, including medical research, food production, and energy generation.
This story originally appeared on: wired japan And it was translated into Japanese.
