Unique Light-Harvesting Structure in Marine Algae Could Shape Future of Artificial Photosynthesis

Unique light-harvesting structure in marine algae could shape future of artificial photosynthesis

Photosynthesis, the natural process of converting sunlight energy into chemical energy and generating molecular oxygen, is a remarkable natural phenomenon that not only forms the basis for sustaining almost all living organisms on Earth but also provides a blueprint for artificial photosynthesis.

Marine Asgard Archaea’s Light-Harvesting Rhodopsin Revealed

In a groundbreaking advancement that challenges existing paradigms of microbial photobiology, researchers have unveiled novel structural insights into how marine Asgard archaea harness light energy. The study, led by Tzlil, Marín, Matsuzaki, and colleagues and published in Nature Microbiology (2025), sheds light on the remarkable capabilities of rhodopsins outfitted with antenna complexes—an unexpected trait in these enigmatic microorganisms tha…