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Review

Light-Driven H2 Production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Lessons from Engineering of Photosynthesis

by
Michael Hippler
1,2,* and
Fatemeh Khosravitabar
3,*
1
Institute of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Münster, Schlossplatz 8, 48143 Münster, Germany
2
Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki 710-0046, Japan
3
Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Gothenburg, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Plants 2024, 13(15), 2114; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152114 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 8 July 2024 / Revised: 22 July 2024 / Accepted: 25 July 2024 / Published: 30 July 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgae Photobiology, Biotechnology, and Bioproduction)
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Abstract

:
In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, hydrogen production is catalyzed via the [FeFe]-hydrogenases HydA1 and HydA2. The electrons required for the catalysis are transferred from ferredoxin (FDX) towards the hydrogenases. In the light, ferredoxin receives its electrons from photosystem I (PSI) so that H2 production becomes a fully light-driven process. HydA1 and HydA2 are highly O2 sensitive; consequently, the formation of H2 occurs mainly under anoxic conditions. Yet, photo-H2 production is tightly coupled to the efficiency of photosynthetic electron transport and linked to the photosynthetic control via the Cyt b6f complex, the control of electron transfer at the level of photosystem II (PSII) and the structural remodeling of photosystem I (PSI). These processes also determine the efficiency of linear (LEF) and cyclic electron flow (CEF). The latter is competitive with H2 photoproduction. Additionally, the CBB cycle competes with H2 photoproduction. Consequently, an in-depth understanding of light-driven H2 production via photosynthetic electron transfer and its competition with CO2 fixation is essential for improving photo-H2 production. At the same time, the smart design of photo-H2 production schemes and photo-H2 bioreactors are challenges for efficient up-scaling of light-driven photo-H2 production.

1. Introduction

Hydrogen (H₂) production is a promising area of research due to its potential as a clean and sustainable energy source. Among the various biological systems studied for H₂ production, the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has garnered significant interest. C. reinhardtii presents several advantages as a model organism for light-driven H₂ production. As a well-established genetic model organism with a fully sequenced genome, it facilitates genetic manipulations and functional studies. Its versatility allows it to grow under various environmental conditions, making it adaptable to different cultivation setups. The alga possesses a highly efficient photosynthetic system capable of harnessing solar energy to drive H₂ production. Notably, it harbors [FeFe]-hydrogenases HydA1 and HydA2, recognized as the most efficient enzymes for H₂ production under anaerobic conditions in nature. However, the primary limitation lies in the extreme sensitivity of HydA1/HydA2 to oxygen (O2), which surpasses that of [NiFe]-hydrogenases, hindering the widespread application of C. reinhardtii in photo-H₂ production [1].
Green microalgae possess several mechanisms for H2 production, leveraging their photosynthetic and metabolic pathways. The primary mechanism is the production of photo-H2 through oxygenic photosynthetic electron transfer. In this process, photo-reduced ferredoxin (FDX) could be utilized by HydA1/HydA2 to generate H2 [2,3]. The light-driven reduction in FDX is catalyzed by photosystem I (PSI), which is coupled to oxidation of water and production of oxygen at photosystem II. Thus, the generation of photo-H2 is always linked to the production of O2 and thereby self-limiting (see also below).
Another significant mechanism is photofermentation, where H2 is produced under anaerobic conditions during the metabolic fermentation of organic compounds such as sugars or glycerol. This process typically occurs in the light, where microalgae use their enzymatic machinery to ferment organic substrates and simultaneously produce H2 as a byproduct [4]. Conversely, dark fermentation involves H2 production under anaerobic conditions without light, utilizing stored energy from organic compounds accumulated during light periods. This process relies on the activity of hydrogenases to generate H2 from metabolic pathways, offering a versatile means of H2 production in the absence of light but requiring prior light exposure for substrate accumulation [4].
Photo-H2 production via biophotolysis offers distinct advantages over other mechanisms. It efficiently utilizes light energy to directly split water into hydrogen and oxygen, achieving high energy conversion efficiency. This process is sustainable, relying on renewable resources like sunlight and CO2, and enables simultaneous hydrogen production and biomass accumulation, making it a promising avenue for renewable energy generation with low environmental impact.
As photo-H2 production is coupled to photosynthetic electron transfer, O2 is evolved by PSII, which in turn inactivates the [FeFe]-hydrogenases [5]. Thus, in a natural system, e.g., when Chlamydomonas cells become anoxic due to strong respiring bacterial mats, HydA1 and HydA2 operate as short-lived valves for coping with an excess of energy during abrupt light exposure [6,7]. The finding that Chlamydomonas is producing photo-H2 under sulfur deficiency boosted the H2 research in the field, followed by advancements in photosynthesis engineering, leading to significant progress in the field in recent years (Table 1) [8]. Yet, photohydrogen production is tightly coupled to the efficiency of photosynthetic electron transport and connected to photosynthetic control at the Cyt b6f complex [9,10,11,12], control of electron transfer at the level of PSII [13], remodeling of PSI [14] and efficiency of linear (LEF) versus cyclic electron flow (CEF) [15]. Consequently, for improved engineering of photo-H2, an in-depth understanding of the light-driven H2 production via photosynthetic electron transfer is mandatory. Moreover, competition of photo-H2 production with CO2 fixation and as well as the design novel photo-H2 bioreactors need to be addressed. In the following, these aspects are discussed.

2. Engineering of Photosynthesis to Boost Photo-H2

2.1. The Photosynthetic Electron Transfer

In plant photosynthesis, two separate photosystems (PSI and PSII) and an ATP synthase drive light-dependent water oxidation, NADP reduction and ATP formation [40]. ATP is formed at the expense of the proton motive force generated by the light reactions owing to the function of ATP synthase [41]. The Cyt b6f complex links electron transfer between the two photosystems. It functions as membrane-bound plastoquinone (PQ)/plastocyanin (PC) or cytochrome c6 (Cyt c6) oxidoreductase and also pumps protons into the thylakoid lumen. PC and Cyt c6 are oxidized by photo-oxidized PSI. Ferredoxin (FDXs) are reduced as the terminal electron acceptor of PSI. FDX, in turn, reduces the FDX-NADP-reductase (FNR), leading to the formation of NADPH in a process defined as LEF. ATP and NADPH are then consumed by the Bassham–Benson–Calvin cycle for CO2 fixation [42]. Alternatively, reduced FDX could reinject electrons into the photosynthetic electron transfer chain in a process called CEF [43] or transfer electrons towards HydA1 and HydA2 (see below).

2.2. PSII Dependent O2 Production and Photosynthetic Control Associated with PSII Relevant for Photo-H2 Production

PSII is a multiprotein complex that catalyzes light-dependent water oxidation, resulting in the production of oxygen [44]. To enhance the light-harvesting and O2 production capacity of PSII, various numbers of light-harvesting proteins (LHCB) bind to dimeric PSII core complexes [45]. A structure frequently found in vascular plants and green algae is the C2S2 supercomplex, in which two copies of the monomeric Lhcb4 and Lhcb5 and two LHCII trimers (S-trimers) are bound to the dimeric core [46]. In vascular plants, larger but less stable PSII supercomplexes, known as C2S2M2, consist of two additional copies of the monomeric Lhcb6 with two additional LHCII trimers (M-trimers) bound via Lhcb4 and Lhcb5 [45,47]. Even larger complexes contain two additional LHCII trimers (L-trimers) bound via Lhcb6 and are referred to as C2S2M2L1–2 [48]. A recent study in C. reinhardtii identified PSII-LHCII supercomplexes with three LHCII trimers bound to each side of the core (C2S2M2L2) [49]. Interestingly, the down-regulation of PSII trimer forming LHCBM proteins, LHCBM1, 2 and 3 in C. reinhardtii reduced the PSII antenna size significantly and increased photo-H2 production [50], which was also due to diminished to O2 mediated HydA inhibition. As mentioned, photosynthetic O2 production via PSII is deleterious for H2 production as it inactivates the [FeFe]-hydrogenases [5]. To circumvent HydA inactivation and make it more resistant to inactivation by O2, mutations were introduced that prevent the interaction of O2 with the active center of hydrogenase [16,17,51]. This led to variants that maintain H2 production over a longer period of time. Other attempts have been made to change the mechanism of O2 production by modifying/down-regulating the PSII O2-producing machinery. As mentioned above, treatment of C. reinhardtii by nutrient depletion, such as sulfur deprivation [8,15,19,20], led to PSII downregulation and induction of anoxia, followed by sustained H2 production. Another way was to genetically modify PSII to allow H2 production [21,22,23,24]. The development of new illumination protocols, such as the emission of a series of short light pulses, also enabled continuous H2 production [37]. An alternative way to suppress O2 concentration in photosynthetic C. reinhardtii is the use of an O2 scavenger. In a recent paper, a chemical O2 scavenger system was utilized on a small scale (10 mL), which increased photo-H2 synthesis by 2–5-fold over cells without sulfur deficiency [25]. Similarly, an improved photo-H2 production rate was achieved by using an iron-based O2 absorbent in the headspace of the culture [26].
Recently, a new type of photosynthetic control associated with PSII was described under anoxic conditions in C. reinhardtii [13], reducing maximum photosynthetic productivity threefold. It is hypothesized that photosynthetic control, which depends on the acidification of the lumen pH, leads to a PSII acceptor limitation, which in turn alters the internal electron flow mechanism of the acceptor side, which is reflected in a notable decline in H2 production. This is a new concept, as photosynthetic control is known to be mechanistically linked to the Cyt b6f complex, which slows down PQH2 oxidation due to lumen acidification to protect PSI. Supporting this hypothesis, a recent study indicated that partial inhibition of electron transport from Cyt b6f to PSI (using small concentrations of DBMIB inhibitor) resulted in periodic surges of H2 production, suggesting evidence for the hypothesized photosynthetic control mechanism [12].

2.3. Remodeling of PSI Supercomplexes, a Process Relevant for Photo-H2 Production

The PSI of green algae can contain up to ten LHCs: two at the PSAL pole and up to eight arranged in two crescents at the PSAF pole [52,53,54,55,56]. On the contrary, high-resolution structures of PSI from vascular plants revealed that it contains four LHCs [57,58,59]. Remarkably, an additional LHCA1-A4 dimer was recently found to bind to the PSAL site in Arabidopsis thaliana [60], suggesting that binding of an LHCA heterodimer to the PSAL site also occurs in vascular plants. In this low-resolution complex, an LHCII trimer was also associated and in contact with the additional LHCA1-A4 dimer on the PSAL site. It was suggested that this may represent another PS-LHCI-LHCII state transition complex. This state transition complex is formed when PSII is preferentially excited, and in turn, phosphorylated LHCII proteins detach from PSII to partly connect to PSI (state II). Under conditions in which PSI excitation predominates, this process is reversed. LHCII proteins are de-phosphorylated and associated with PSII (state I) [61]. The kinase responsible for LHCII phosphorylation is STT7 in C. reinhardtii [62] or STN7 in A. thaliana [63]. High-resolution structures of PSI-LHCI-LHCII complexes were gathered via cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) from maize [64] and C. reinhardtii [65,66]. Interestingly, a C. reinhardtii mutant (Stm6), which is blocked in the state 1 transition, showed increased H2 production rates under sulfur deficiency [20]. This strain also possessed larger starch reserves, had a higher respiratory rate leading to a low dissolved O2 concentration (40% of the wild type (WT) and had less efficient cyclic electron flow (CEF). This all together resulted in H2 production rates of Stm6, which were about 10 times higher than the control WT strain.
In a recent cryo-EM study, a PSI dimer was identified as another PSI supercomplex from C. reinhardtii [67], where two copies of LHCA9 tether two monomeric PSI in a head-to-head fashion, forming a large oligomeric protein complex. Such dimeric PSI complexes were identified in membranes in dark- and light-adapted membranes of A. thaliana using atomic force microscopy [68]. Similarly, in another study, closely associated PSI-LHCI complexes were identified in solubilized membranes of A. thaliana by negative staining electron microscopy [69]. PSI dimers were also identified by cryo-EM analyses of PSI particles from a temperature-sensitive PSII mutant in Chlamydomonas [70].
A reversible PSI dimer formation may have a physiological role in thylakoid membrane structure maintenance in chloroplasts. Importantly, the formation of PSI-LHCI-LHCII and dimerization of PSI are mutually exclusive, as dimer formation would clash with structural features of the state transition complex [67].
Notably, in the dimeric as well as in the state transition but not in the monomeric PSI structure, two loops in the stromal side of PSAG and LHCA9 could be interpreted, likely due to the stabilization by the adjacent monomer in the PSI dimer [67]. This indicates that both PSAG and LHCA9 undergo a structural rearrangement upon dimer and state transitions complex formation, which is absent in the monomer. Steinbeck et al. [71] provided structural evidence that the Cyt b6f binds to PSI towards the PSAG side when LHCA2 and LHCA9 are absent to form a PSI-Cyt b6f supercomplex, underpinning the importance of LHCA2 and LHCA9 for remodeling of PSI (see also below). A model presented in [14] summarized these findings. Notably, the depletion of LHCA2 alters the regulation of photosynthetic electron transfer and hydrogen production in vivo in C. reinhardtii [14] (see also below), indicating physiological consequences of PSI-LHCI structural dynamics. In this scenario, depletion of LHCA2 may favor PSI-dimer formation. PSI-dimer formation, in turn, might be more efficient in HydA1 and HydA2 binding and FDX reduction, thereby promoting electron transfer towards hydrogenase. The significance of PSI remodeling for protein–protein interaction and electron transfer between PSI and FDX and between FDX and hydrogenase is depicted in Figure 1. Notably, the PSI-dimer could generate two molecules of reduced FDX at once, which in turn could be used directly to produce a molecule of H2 via HydA. Mechanistically, these changes are also linked to PROTON GRADIENT REGULATION5 (PGR5).

2.4. CEF and Photosynthetic Control, Competing Processes for Photo-H2 Production

Recent work in C. reinhardtii provided evidence that PGR5 is involved in CEF [72]. This is in line with its proposed function to facilitate stromal electron transfer into the Cyt b6f [73]. Its deletion thereby strongly disturbs the Mitchellian Q cycle. Also, the deletion of PROTON GRADIENT REGULATION-LIKE1 (PGRL1) impacts CEF in Chlamydomonas [74,75]. It has been proposed that PGRL1 is involved in plastoquinone reduction during CEF [76], yet PGRL1 appears to be rather important for PGR5 expression control and protein stability; in the absence of PGRL1, PGR5 is strongly reduced, mimicking PGR5-dependent phenotypes [74,77,78]. There is evidence that the association of FNR with the thylakoid membrane and its association with PSI supercomplexes is impaired in the absence of PGR5 and/or PGRL1, implying that both proteins, directly or indirectly, contribute to the recruitment of FNR to the thylakoid membrane [79]. These findings suggest that PGR5/PGRL1 knockout-related phenotypes are potentially interconnected to FNR-mediated regulation of photosynthetic electron transport in C. reinhardtii, possibly related to the Mitchellian Q cycle during CEF [73,80].
In addition, it is relevant for photo-H2 production. The PGR5 deficient strain in the T222 parental background possesses a higher respiration rate and is an efficient H2 producer with an average rate with an average rate of about 5 µmol H2 mg Chl−1 h−1 [15]. This pgr5 phenotype is similar to the one of Stm6. The integration of the lhca2 mutant into the pgr5 mutant leads to a double mutant with an even greater potential as an H2 producer. The double mutant has been reported as the most potent H2 producer under sulfur deprivation [14]. Under sulfur-replete conditions, when the pgr5/lhca2 strain is simply shifted from darkness to light, it has an initial rate of H2 production of 336 μmol H2 mg Chl−1 h−1, significantly higher than the WT and the pgr5 mutant [14] and the highest rate measured so far (Figure 2). This corresponds to a light-to-H2 conversion efficiency of 10.9%, which close to the 13.4% maximal theoretical conversion efficiency at 413 μmol mg Chl−1 h−1 [81]. This underpins the assumption, that PSI-dimer formation due to the absence of LHCA2 in the pgr5 mutant might further promote photo-H2 significantly (see above). It also indicates a great potential to exploit the structural features of PSI in the absence of LHCA2 to enhance photo-H2 production.
The finding that photo-H2 production is enhanced in the pgr5 mutant is likely related to the fact that CEF competes with electron donation to hydrogenases (see below). In line, as outlined above, detachment of FNR from the thylakoid membrane might also impact CEF and/or electron donation to NADP+, which would provide more electrons for photo-H2 production. The putative involvement of FNR in CEF has been noted by Iwai et al. [82]. In this work, the isolation of a CEF protein supercomplex composed of PSI-LHCI, LHCII, the Cyt b6f complex, FNR and PGRL1 from state II conditions is described. Functional spectroscopic analyses indicated that this supercomplex performed electron flow under in vitro conditions in the presence of exogenously added soluble PC and FDX [82]. Notably, Terashima et al. [83] also isolated an in vitro active PGR-PSI-Cyt b6f supercomplex of similar composition, also containing FNR, from anaerobic growth conditions. In another work, a low-resolution structure of a PSI-Cyt b6f supercomplex from C. reinhardtii isolated from anaerobic conditions was revealed [71]. It is suggested that these PSI-Cyt b6f complexes could be functionally involved in CEF [71]. In this process, FDX might transfer electrons towards Cyt b6f, stimulating CEF between Cyt b6f and PSI. The pathway of CEF shares at least PQ, Cyt b6f, PC, PSI and FDX with that of LEF. Several routes have been proposed for PQ reduction during CEF in microalgae and vascular plants. Besides the PGR5 dependent pathway, CEF also occurs via an NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (NDH)-dependent pathway [84] or direct reduction in a quinone bound to the Qi site of Cyt b6f by combined electron transfer from its proximal heme ci and an FNR bound to the complex [85]. Indeed, recent work [73] suggested PSI and PGR5-dependent stromal electron transfer into Cyt b6f as a part of the Q cycle in algae, as proposed [86]. This functional link between cyclic electron flow (CEF) and electron transfer into Cyt b6f would alter a canonical Q cycle during linear electron flow (LEF) to an alternative Q cycle during CEF [73]. It is currently mechanistically unclear how this electron transfer occurs and how PGR5 is involved. It is suggested that stromal electrons enter the PQ pool directly at the Qi site via bound FNR [85,87]. Thus, the b6f would act as FDX-PQ-reductase as originally suggested by Mitchell [88], and FNR would tether FDX during this process, which could drive the reduction in heme-ci. The operation of the Q cycle [86] contributes to both ΔpH and ΔΨ formation. In turn, elevated acidification of the lumen slows down the oxidation of PQH2 at the Cyt b6f, leading to a slowdown of overall photosynthetic electron transfer, designated as photosynthetic control [10]. Interestingly, in C. reinhardtii, photosynthetic control is particularly established under anoxic CEF-promoting conditions [9]. Thus, under anoxia, electron transfer towards photo-H2 is limited by acidification of the lumen driven by the Mitchellian Q cycle, which consumes electrons from FDX, the electron donor for HydA1 and A2, and slows down the rate-limiting step of photosynthetic electron transfer, which is the oxidation of PQH2 at the Qo site of the Cyt b6f [89]. Now, the following question arises: why is photo-H2 elevated in the absence of PGR5? Here, two reasons appear to be plausible; one, as already mentioned, is that in the absence of PGR5, fewer electrons are directed toward CEF, and more are available for HydA1 and A2. The other reason could be related to an impact in the Mitchellian Q cycle, which leads to a less acidified lumen, thereby hindering the full onset of photosynthetic control. In this way, and under defined anoxic conditions, more electrons flow to PSI and FDX, which in turn might enhance electron transfer toward photo-H2 production.

3. Engineering of Photosynthesis in C. reinhardtii to Boost Photo-H2—Carbon Fixation

Hydrogenase enzymes must compete with different metabolic pathways to acquire photosynthetic electrons from FDX, which is the main electron hub. Carbon fixation by the Calvin Benson Bassham (CBB) cycle, as the strongest sink of electrons, is the most robust competitor [90,91]. Due to the high demand for NADPH by the Calvin cycle and the fact that hydrogenase is a significantly less efficient electron acceptor than FNR, the Calvin cycle outcompetes H2 production within two minutes of the transition from dark to light [92,93]. Contrary to the earlier dogma [94,95], now it is established that the inadequate competitiveness of hydrogenase against the Calvin cycle for photosynthetic electrons is the primary cause for the halt in H2 production, occurring even before the inactivation of HydA by oxygen resulting from water splitting [7]. Moreover, it is reported that the heightened activity of the CBB cycle likely leads to a shifting of HydA activity towards H2 uptake. This is suggested to be a physiological response to the high demand of the CBB cycle for NADPH under microoxic conditions and at light, wherein hydrogenase releases electrons from H2 for use in NADP+ reduction [96]. It can serve as a protective mechanism for cell survival; however, it is not ideal from the biotechnological perspective, as this H2 uptake hinders the potential of sustainable H2 production.
In total, the challenge of insufficient electron allocation to HydA predominantly arises mainly from electron loss to the CBB cycle, and thus impairing CO2 fixation can be considered as a promising solution to boost H2 production. The established strategies to manipulate the electron partitioning between CO2 fixation and H2 production can be categorized into two main approaches: (1) synthetic biology-based approaches and (2) designing new protocols. All these strategies aim to redirect photosynthetic electron transfer to improve electron allocation to HydA.

3.1. Synthetic Biology Approaches to Enhance Electron Supply to HydA

Genetic engineering of various targets to divert electron flow to HydA has shown varying degrees of improvement in both the duration and rate of H2 production. In earlier studies, the ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) enzyme was considered an engineering target for impairing the CBB cycle in C. reinhardtii. The introduction of a missense mutation into the large sub-unit of Rubisco resulted in a higher capability of H2 production of the resulted mutant compared with the WT parent. But it also enhanced the extent of photoinhibition of PSII [33,34]. Alternatively, the knock-down of Rubisco was examined by point mutagenesis in tyrosine 67 of the Rubisco small subunit. The resulting mutant (Y67A) was able to grow in low light conditions, with significantly improved hydrogen productivity under sulfur deficiency [35]. The light sensitivity of the Rubisco mutants implies that a certain level of CBB cycle activity is crucial for repairing the photodamaged PSII, maintaining the integrity of photosynthetic machinery, and thereby achieving sustainable H2 production [34]. Another interesting mutant in this regard is the temperature-sensitive mutant TSP2, which has a high H2 production phenotype when grown at 37 °C (12 μmol H2 mg Chl−1 h−1) [97]. It harbors a single amino acid change Pro160Leu in Phosphoribulokinase (PRK) [36]. At 37 °C, the enzyme is inactive, but its quantity does not change, which indicates that the point mutation makes the enzyme temperature-sensitive. As PRK catalyzes the phosphorylation of ribulose 5-phosphate by the use of ATP, the CBB cycle does not work in the absence of active PRK. These results also point to a strong competition between CO2 fixation and the CBB cycle.
FDX1, also known as PETF, presents an alternative target for engineering electron transport redirection towards HydA. Six out of twelve ferredoxin isoforms have been characterized in C. reinhardtii. And only two out of the six chloroplast-localized ferredoxins, known as FDX1 and FDX2, are functionally linked to the hydrogenases [98]. The capability of FDX2 to provide electrons to the hydrogenase is less than half of that observed for FDX1. Thus, FDX1 is considered the primary electron donor to the hydrogenase [92,99]. However, the affinity of FDX1 for FNR is 4- to 13-fold higher than that for HydA1 (Km (FNR) = 0.8–2.6 mM, Km (HydA1) = 3.4–35 mM) [100]. Moreover, on the protein level, FNR is about 70-fold more abundant than HydA1 in anoxic C. reinhardtii cells [101]. Therefore, a strategy for enhancing H2 photoproduction by C. reinhardtii has been to engineer proteins aimed at increasing the interaction of FDX1 with HydA1 rather than FNR.
Two conserved aspartic acid residues, D19 and D58, within FDX1, were found to play a crucial role in the selective recognition of as an electron transfer binding partner [32], while they do not affect the interaction of FDX1 with HydA1 [98]. Site-directed mutation of these residues led to a decreased affinity of FDX1 for FNR, likely redirecting photosynthetic electrons toward HydA1 and consequently enhancing in vivo hydrogen production fourfold [32].
Another effective strategy for enhancing electron transport to HydA involved fusing the FDX1 protein to HydA. The FDX1-HydA1 fusion protein was shown to redirect over 60% of the photosynthetic electron pool towards H2 production in vitro, a significant increase compared to the less than 10% observed for natural HydA1 protein [91]. Notably, in vivo expression of this fusion protein in C. reinhardtii resulted in a 4.5-fold improvement in production compared to the wild type [102]. This enhancement was attributed to the tethering of FDX1-HydA1 to PSI, which facilitated the diversion of electron flux towards HydA. Additionally, the fusion protein exhibited improved O2 tolerance both in vitro and in vivo, retaining 25% activity after a 10 min exposure to O2 (1.7 µmol), compared to only 7.5% activity for wild-type HydA1. Although the molecular mechanism behind this improvement requires further investigation, it is hypothesized that the FDX1 moiety of the fusion protein either reduces O2 to O2− or partially blocks O2 from accessing the active site of HydA1 [102].
Rewiring photosynthesis to deliver electrons from PSI directly to HydA also has shown promise, both in vitro [29,30] as well as in vivo, for photo-H2 production by C. reinhardtii [100]. The first direct fusions of HydA to PSI were accomplished in vitro by self-assembly of genetically modified and separately purified proteins [29]. In vivo fusion of PSI and HydA was achieved by inserting the HydA sequence into the PsaC subunit of PSI, resulting in a co-assembled active photosystem. Cells expressing only the PSI-hydrogenase chimera indicated high rates of photo-H2 production for several days [100]. It was later revealed that HydA activity in this fusion protein could be restored after complete inactivation by O2, indicating that the active site of the enzyme could be reinserted into the same PsaC-HydA1 protein by hydrogenase maturases [31]. Surprisingly, this recent study disclosed that the PSI-HydA1 chimera could also reduce ferredoxin in vivo to a degree that drives the CBB cycle, although FDX1 reduction was hampered overall. This led to high O2 production rates and eventually inactivating the hydrogenase, making this mutant unsuitable for long-term sustainable H2 production [31].
In another study, a fusion protein combining HydA1 and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly boosted H2 production [18]. Although originally designed to enhance the O2 tolerance of HydA1, the fusion protein did not protect HydA1 from O2 but sustained continuous H2 production for up to 14 days. It achieved the average H2 production rates of up to 10–15 µmol H2 L−1 h−1 in C. reinhardtii without the need for any nutrient deprivation, using a standard TAP medium. This prolonged and enhanced H2 production is attributed to the ability of fusion protein to compete with the CBB cycle for electrons. However, this competition with the CBB cycle had some drawbacks, as C. reinhardtii HydA1-SOD mutants exhibited slower growth rates, likely due to impaired photosynthetic activity [18,34]. The molecular mechanism behind this great competitiveness remains unclear, but it is hypothesized that the HydA1-SOD fusion protein binds to (or in close proximity to) PSI, limiting FNR’s access to reduced FDX. In an alternative hypothesis, HydA1-SOD may outcompete soluble FNR for electrons in the stroma [18].
Structural and functional remodeling of PSI, established in pgr5/lhca2 double mutant, has also been revealed as an interesting and promising strategy for rerouting electrons towards HydA. Although the estimated electron transport rate in the double mutant was similar to that of the wild type, the rate of CO2 assimilation was significantly lower, proposing a redirection of electrons towards hydrogenase or possibly towards O2 photo-reduction. It is speculated that in this double mutant, PSI-dimerization supports H2 production either via recruiting HydA to PSI and/or by displacing FNR, resulting in an exceptional H2 production rate [14] (see also above).

3.2. Customized Methods of Photo-H2 Production to Enhance Electron Supply to HydA

In addition to genetic engineering, promoting electron allocation to HydA can be achieved by developing new methods and protocols for algal photo-H2 production. Nagy et al. [26] proposed a method based on fully limiting the substrates for the CBB cycle to block carbon fixation. Green microalgae, such as C. reinhardtii, can use both CO2 and acetate as carbon sources for the CBB cycle. Acetate assimilation occurs via the tricarboxylic acid cycle and the glyoxylate cycle, which are linked to gluconeogenesis and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway. The CO2 and glycerate 3-phosphate are released and then fed to the CBB cycle [103,104]. By omitting both CO2 and acetate and implementing some previously established measures, this method effectively boosted H2 production. The protocol involves a short anaerobic dark incubation of the cultures to induce HydA expression, followed by continuous high light intensity incubation (320 µmol photons m−2 s−1) in an acetate-free medium without CO2 supply and daily N2-flushing of the culture headspace. The absence of CBB cycle substrates, combined with an iron-based O2 absorbent to maintain hypoxia, sustained H2 production for several days, yielding higher cumulative H2 production compared to the sulfur deprivation protocol [26]. In this system, the pgr5 mutants showed excellent performance and proved to be well-suited for both sunlight intensity and varying light conditions [27].
Pulse illumination protocol is another novel method developed by [37] for bypassing the competition of CO2 assimilation with H2 production. This approach is based on a simple light-paradigm shift from continuous illumination to a series of white light pulses (1 s) interrupted by longer dark phases (9 s). The short illumination period prevents activation of CBB cycle enzymes, while the dark period allows oxygen removal through respiration, activating HydA. This method sustained H2 production for three days, achieving a maximum specific rate of 25 µmol H2 mg Ch−1 h−1 [37]. Recently, improvements to this protocol, such as increasing the illumination period to 2 s and using red light (660 nm) instead of white light to boost the electron source, were proposed [38]. They also introduced low concentrations of sodium sulfite, a proven oxygen scavenger [39], into the culture to eliminate evolved O2 from the increased light period. Among the wavelengths tested, 660 nm red light was optimal for H2 production, probably due to decreased gene expression of Rubisco and FNR [38].
By combining the light/dark cycle protocol (2 min light and 3 min dark) with the omission of CBB cycle substrate (both CO2 and acetate), Milrad et al. could achieve an average production rate of 49 µmol H2 mg Chl−1 h−1 under an irradiance of 370 µmol photons m−2 s−1 in the short term [7].
Alongside these established protocols, meticulous optimization of cell incubation conditions to favor electron partitioning to HydA can significantly boost H2 production yield. During the cell growth phase, C. reinhardtii cultures are typically incubated at room temperature. However, transitioning the cultures to an increased temperature of 34 °C at the beginning of the H2 production phase, as proposed by [105,106], can enhance H2 production efficiency when combined with other effective strategies. In this work, it was shown that photo-H2 can be produced under mixotrophic conditions and higher temperatures in the pgr5 mutant. This revealed a novel protocol where no nutrient deficiency is required for photo-H2 production [105,106]. Higher temperatures reduce the solubility of gas molecules, allowing more evolved H2 to escape from the liquid phase to the gas phase, thereby bypassing H2 uptake and reducing electron loss to the CBB cycle [105,106]. Additionally, CO2 is less soluble at higher temperatures, making it less available for the CBB cycle [107]. Moreover, temperatures above 20 °C are likely to induce reversible inactivation of CO2 fixation [108]. Therefore, adjusting the incubation temperature could serve as a switch for activating or deactivating CO2 fixation, fine-tuning the H2 production process [107].

4. Engineering of Photo-H2 by Tailoring Photobioreactor Design

To develop an economically viable system for green H2 production using green algae, it is crucial to engineer photobioreactors (PBRs) specifically tailored for outdoor photo-H2 production. The ideal PBR should support high cell density achievement to maximize productivity per surface area, and it should also facilitate optimal sunlight-to-H2 conversion efficiency [109,110]. Additionally, the regular collection of produced H2 (to avoid H2 uptake) is an essential requirement of an effective PBR for photo-H2 production [110,111]. According to Burgess et al. (2006), the efficiency of H2 collection is influenced by several factors, including the materials used in the reactor (H2 permeability coefficient), the geometry of the reactor (such as wall thickness, reactor diameter and length of joints), as well as the velocities and volume ratios of the gas and liquid [112]. Key design considerations for an ideal photo-H2 production PBR include the following: (1) the optimal selection of the material and geometry; (2) effective agitation methods; (3) a robust gas discharge and collection system; (4) airtight connections to prevent ambient O2 intrusion; (5) compatibility with the requirements of the most promising established protocols for photo-H2 production [113,114].
Scaling up of different protocols initially developed in lab-scale setups can encounter various challenges that significantly impact the efficiency of photo-H2 production. For instance, an attempt by Scoma et al. [115] to produce H2 with sulfur-deprived C. reinhardtii in a 50 L outdoor tubular bioreactor failed to replicate laboratory-scale results. The light-to-H2 energy conversion efficiency in their tubular pilot-scale PBR was only about 18% of what was achieved in the lab. Several factors contributed to this discrepancy, including differences in PBR geometry and mixing systems, turbulence rates, light intensity and uniformity [115]. Additionally, the conventional method of sulfur deficiency used in this pilot trial is not an efficient strategy for sustainable H2 production.
Later studies have confirmed that among various PBR configurations, flat panel formats are the leading choice for photo-H2 production, primarily due to their ease of construction and high surface-to-volume ratio, which result in superior light distribution [113,116]. These features make them effective for large-scale cultivation, outperforming tubular PBRs in terms of photosynthetic efficiency [117]. It has been shown that these benefits can be harnessed with a suitable design for producing photo-H2 through well-established protocols. The flat plate culture vessel can be positioned horizontally with a rocking motion agitation, which creates a large surface area between the culture and headspace, even with a small headspace volume inside the reactor. This feature provides an advantage for the release and collection of hydrogen gas compared to bulk PBRs [114,118].
Adapting these considerations, Nagy et al. designed a thin cell layer photobioreactors (TCL-PBR), when instead of traditional bulk culture flasks, they utilized a 1 L flat culture flask including a dense thin layer culture, along with a fabricated O2-absorbant holder in top [28]. With this PBR, they managed to enhance the H2 productivity attainable by substrate-limitation protocol approximately three-fold as compared to that achieved using traditional bulk. Interestingly, this PBR setup enabled continuous H2 production at sunlight intensity (1000 µmol photons m−2 s−1) when cell density was increased from 50 to 150 µg Chl/mL. Among the four strains of C. reinhardtii tested, the pgr5 mutant showed exceptional performance, maintaining its photosynthetic apparatus and HydA activity for six days, achieving a total of 53 µmol H2 mL−1 [28]. This impressive H2 production rate under sunlight intensity represents a significant step towards outdoor H2 production.
However, another important consideration is how this system performs under daily light cycles and variable light intensities. In a recent study by Nagy et al., the TCL-PBR was equipped with an automated system to continuously monitor H2 production in thin-layer cultures of green algae under simulated daily light conditions [27] (16 h light/8 h dark and under variable light intensities between 0 and 1000 μmol photons m−2 s−1). This automated PBR featured regular N2 flushing, pressure control and automated gas sampling. The total H2 yield obtained by the pgr5 mutant under dark–light cycles [27] was lower compared to continuous illumination following a short dark incubation period [105,106]. However, dark–light cycles offered an advantage for the pgr5 mutant. In continuous light, daily H2 production decreased significantly towards the end of the experiment, while in dark–light cycles, H2 production remained more stable. This stability may be due to partial regeneration of HydA during dark periods [27]. Another type of cyclic photosynthetic hydrogen-producing bioreactor [119] has been introduced to take advantage of temperature-sensitive mutants such as the TSP2 mutant [36,97]. Accordingly, in this reactor, the C. reinhardtii culture circulates between two illuminated main chambers at different temperatures. At 25 °C, the culture grows in an aerobic bottle; at 37 °C, the culture produces hydrogen in a sealed anaerobic collection chamber.
Furthermore, varying light intensity (0 to 1000 μmol photons m−2 s−1) positively impacted H2 production in both the CC-124 strain and the pgr5 mutant. This effect might be due to HydA’s role in relieving pressure on the photosynthetic electron transport chain. Electrons are likely transferred to HydA more efficiently as light intensity increases. Under these simulated outdoor conditions using the automated TCL-PBR, the pgr5 mutant was confirmed to be a promising candidate for H2 production in bio-industrial settings, even under variable conditions [27].
Recently, Chen [114] proposed a concept design for large-scale photo-H2 production by integrating the dark/light cycle protocol with the substrate limitation protocol (Figure 3). This approach appears promising and economically feasible, though it requires proof of concept. The design features a two-layer structure: the top layer photobioreactor is exposed to sunlight for H2 production, while the bottom tank is kept in darkness for HydA enzyme recovery. A water pump regulates the flow rate to maintain a cycle of 2 min of light and 3 min of dark. The bottom tank includes a degasser to separate H2, and its larger size aids in the release of aqueous H2 due to hydraulic pressure changes at the interface between the top tube and the tank. One notable advantage is that many algal species can grow under mixotrophic conditions, allowing growth during the nighttime (with a limited substrate supply) and H2 production during the daytime [114].

5. Conclusions

This review underscores the remarkable potential of C. reinhardtii as a model organism for photo-H2 production. Recent advancements in engineering photosynthesis, alongside the development of various protocols and PBRs, have significantly enhanced the achievable H2 productivity by this alga. Among the numerous mutants of C. reinhardtii engineered to improve H2 production efficiency, the pgr5 and pgr5/lhca2 mutants have emerged as leading H2 producers.
To fully exploit the capabilities of these mutants for photo-H2 production, future research should focus on gaining a deeper understanding of photosynthetic control mechanisms under anaerobic conditions and optimizing these processes to favor H2 production. Moreover, the link between CO2 fixation efficiency, respiration and photo-H2 production needs more attention.
Additionally, integrating photo-H2 production with the generation of other valuable algal products represents another promising area for further research. This approach, by enabling the production of multiple products from a single algal biomass, could enhance the economic viability of algal H2 production.

Funding

M.H. was supported by the DFG (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft) [grant number HI 739/13-3] and DFG FOR 5573—GoPMF [grant number HI 739/25-1]. Moreover, M.H. acknowledges funding from the RECTOR program (Okayama University, Japan). F.K. acknowledges funding from the Olle Engkvist Foundation [grant number 218-0099]. Figure 3 was reproduced from [114] with permission from the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Plants 13 02114 g001
Figure 1. Schematic view on PSI remodeling processes and electron transfer between FDX (brown) and HydA (cyan). The monomeric PSI-LHCI complex (PSI core. Blue, LHCI belt at PSAF side, yellow, LHCA9-LHCA2 hetero-dimer, pink) can be remodeled into the state transition complex, with two LHCII-trimers (green) or the PSI-dimer, tethered head-to-head via LHCA9. The PSI dimer can photo-reduce two molecules of FDX (brown) at once, which in turn could be used directly to produce a molecule of H2 via HydA (cyan). HydA could also bind to the various PSI complexes, with binding to the PSI dimer being favored. PDB: 7DZ7: 7ZQC: PSI-monomer, PSI-monomer+ LHC trimers, 7ZQD: PSI-dimer 6KV0: FDX1 (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii), 6N59: HydA (Clostridium).
Figure 1. Schematic view on PSI remodeling processes and electron transfer between FDX (brown) and HydA (cyan). The monomeric PSI-LHCI complex (PSI core. Blue, LHCI belt at PSAF side, yellow, LHCA9-LHCA2 hetero-dimer, pink) can be remodeled into the state transition complex, with two LHCII-trimers (green) or the PSI-dimer, tethered head-to-head via LHCA9. The PSI dimer can photo-reduce two molecules of FDX (brown) at once, which in turn could be used directly to produce a molecule of H2 via HydA (cyan). HydA could also bind to the various PSI complexes, with binding to the PSI dimer being favored. PDB: 7DZ7: 7ZQC: PSI-monomer, PSI-monomer+ LHC trimers, 7ZQD: PSI-dimer 6KV0: FDX1 (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii), 6N59: HydA (Clostridium).
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Figure 2. Short-term kinetics of dissolved H2 measured by membrane-inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS). cc124, pgr5/lhca2 and pgr5 cells at a concentration of 15 µg Chl mL−1 were incubated in the dark for 2 h (in Tris–Acetate–Phosphate (TAP) medium), after which they were exposed to 16 min of illumination (370 µmol photons m−2 s−1; white background) followed by 2 min of high light (2500 µmol photons m−2 s−1; yellow background) (modified from [14]).
Figure 2. Short-term kinetics of dissolved H2 measured by membrane-inlet mass spectrometry (MIMS). cc124, pgr5/lhca2 and pgr5 cells at a concentration of 15 µg Chl mL−1 were incubated in the dark for 2 h (in Tris–Acetate–Phosphate (TAP) medium), after which they were exposed to 16 min of illumination (370 µmol photons m−2 s−1; white background) followed by 2 min of high light (2500 µmol photons m−2 s−1; yellow background) (modified from [14]).
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Figure 3. A large-scale design concept integrating the 2 min light/3 min dark cycle method with the substrate limitation approach [114].
Figure 3. A large-scale design concept integrating the 2 min light/3 min dark cycle method with the substrate limitation approach [114].
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Table 1. Key factors for photo-H2 production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
Table 1. Key factors for photo-H2 production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
Key ProteinsInvolving RoleEffective Modifications to Boost H2 ProductionAchievementReference
HydA1/HydA2 Manipulating the active site of the enzyme to decrease interaction with O2Improved O2 tolerance[16,17]
Catalyze production of H2 from electron and protonPSI-HydA1 fusionDeliver more electrons to HydA[18]
PSII Nutrient deprivationGradual inhibition of PSII activity and establishment of hypoxia[8,15,19,20]
Generate e- and H+ for HydAGenetic modification of PSII subunitsDown-regulation of PSII activity[21,22,23,24]
O2 evolution and HydA activity inhibitionUse of O2 absorbentsEstablishment of hypoxia while preserving PSII activity[25,26]
Cyt b6fRegulate photosynthetic electron transport based on redox state of thylakoid membraneDown-regulation of electron transport from Cyt b6f to PSIRegulating H2 production by adjusting the redox state of the thylakoid membrane[12]
PGR5Mediate CEF
Regulating the rate electron transport to HydA
Regulating photo-protective mechanisms		CEF-deficient mutants (pgr5 and stm6)Higher respiratory rate
Higher stability of PSII
More electron allocation to HydA		[15,25,27,28]
PSIElectron transfer to FDXPutative PSI dimerization (in pgr5/lhca2 mutant)More efficient electron transport to HydA[14]
PSI-HydA1 fusionDeliver more electrons to HydA[29,30,31]
FDX1Final electron donor to HydAPoint mutation of FDX1 to decrease the affinity for FNRMore efficient electron transport to HydA[32]
CBB cycle
enzymes		Competing with HydA for photosynthetic electronMutation of Rubisco sub-unitsPartial improvement of electron delivery to HydA
(but more vulnerable to photoinhibition)		[33,34,35]
Temperature-sensitive mutant of PRKLess activity of CBB cycle at 37 ℃[36]
CBB Cycle substrate limitationLimitation of CBB cycle activity due to CO2 and acetate starvation[26,27]
Pulse illuminationPreventing activation of CBB cycle enzymes due to very short light periods[37,38,39]
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Hippler, M.; Khosravitabar, F. Light-Driven H2 Production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Lessons from Engineering of Photosynthesis. Plants 2024, 13, 2114. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152114

AMA Style

Hippler M, Khosravitabar F. Light-Driven H2 Production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Lessons from Engineering of Photosynthesis. Plants. 2024; 13(15):2114. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152114

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Hippler, Michael, and Fatemeh Khosravitabar. 2024. "Light-Driven H2 Production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Lessons from Engineering of Photosynthesis" Plants 13, no. 15: 2114. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13152114

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