Sustainability of in vitro light-dependent NADPH generation by the thylakoid membrane of Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

BACKGROUND: NADPH is used as a reductant in various biosynthetic reactions. Cell-free bio-systems have gained considerable attention owing to their high energy utilization and time efficiency. Efforts have been made to continuously supply reducing power to the reaction mixture in a cyclical manner. The thylakoid membrane (TM) is a promising molecular energy generator, producing NADPH under light. Thus, TM sustainability is of major relevance for its in vitro utilization. RESULTS: Over 70% of TMs prepared from Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 existed in a sealed vesicular structure, with the F(1) complex of ATP synthase facing outward (right-side-out), producing NADPH and ATP under light. The NADPH generation activity of TM increased approximately two-fold with the addition of carbonyl cyanide-p-(trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone (FCCP) or removal of the F(1) complex using EDTA. Thus, the uncoupling of proton translocation from the electron transport chain or proton leakage through the F(o) complex resulted in greater NADPH generation. Biosilicified TM retained more than 80% of its NADPH generation activity after a week at 30°C in the dark. However, activity declined sharply to below 30% after two days in light. The introduction of engineered water-forming NADPH oxidase (Nox(m)) to keep the electron transport chain of TM working resulted in the improved sustainability of NADPH generation activity in a ratio (Nox(m) to TM)-dependent manner, which correlated with the decrease of singlet oxygen generation. Removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by catalase further highlighted the sustainable NADPH generation activity of up to 80% in two days under light. CONCLUSION: Reducing power generated by light energy has to be consumed for TM sustainability. Otherwise, TM can generate singlet oxygen, causing oxidative damage. Thus, TMs should be kept in the dark when not in use. Although NADPH generation activity by TM can be extended via silica encapsulation, further removal of hydrogen peroxide results in an improvement of TM sustainability. Therefore, as long as ROS formation by TM in light is properly handled, it can be used as a promising source of reducing power for in vitro biochemical reactions. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-022-01825-1.