A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Reduced mediators released by cyanobacteria during exoelectrogenesis detected using differential pulse voltammetry;




AuthorsWey, Laura T.; Brachi, Monica; Allahverdiyeva, Yagut; Minteer, Shelley D.

PublisherElsevier BV

Publication year2026

Journal: Bioelectrochemistry

Article number109374

Volume172

ISSN1567-5394

eISSN1878-562X

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioelechem.2026.109374

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Partially Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioelechem.2026.109374

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/526939867

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF

Research data linkhttps://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21189102


Abstract

Cyanobacteria generate electrical current through exoelectrogenesis (extracellular electron transfer) downstream of photosynthesis, yet the identity of the endogenous redox mediator(s) responsible remains unresolved. Here, we apply differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to detect and characterise redox-active species released by Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 under illumination. To enable sensitive detection, we developed an electrolyte intermediate between BG11 (Blue-Green-11) growth medium and MOPS (3-(N-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid) buffer that minimises background electrochemical interference while maintaining short-term cellular functionality. DPV revealed multiple light-enhanced oxidation peaks (0.1–0.65 V vs. saturated calomel electrode (SCE)) that were not resolvable using cyclic voltammetry, providing evidence that cyanobacteria release reduced compounds during exoelectrogenesis. These signals were partially reproduced in cell exudates and absent in controls, confirming their biological origin. The lack of corresponding reduction peaks suggests irreversible redox processes. Comparison with candidate mediators showed that NADPH and 4-hydroxybenzoate, an intermediate in plastoquinone biosynthesis, exhibit only partially similar electrochemical behaviour compared to cells and do not fully account for the measured responses. Collectively, our results indicate that exoelectrogenesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 involves a mixture of redox-active species rather than a single mediator. This study establishes DPV as a powerful tool for in situ detection of cyanobacterial mediators and provides new insights into the mechanisms of photosynthetic extracellular electron transfer.



Keywords:
cyanobacteriadifferential pulse voltammetryexoelectrogenesisMediatorsphotosynthesis

Downloadable publication

This is an electronic reprint of the original article.
This reprint may differ from the original in pagination and typographic detail. Please cite the original version.




Funding information in the publication
Laura Wey reports financial support was provided by Novo Nordisk Foundation. Laura Wey reports financial support was provided by Research Council of Finland. Yagut Allahverdiyeva reports financial support was provided by Research Council of Finland. If there are other authors, they declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

This work was supported by the Novo Nordisk Foundation (grant number NNF22OC0079717), Research Council of Finland (grant numbers 355335, 368729), and Kummer Institute Center for Resource Sustainability.


Last updated on 06/08/2026 08:31:38 AM