Systems Biology Image Gallery

Title :

Synthetic Nanostructures: Putting Microbial Capabilities to Work

Description :

Understanding the sophisticated biochemistries of microbes can lead to the discovery of ways to isolate and use their components to carry out some of the functions of living cells. An example in this figure shows the enzyme organophosphorus hydrolase (OPH), which has been embedded in a synthetic nanomembrane (mesoporous silica) that enhances its activity and stability [J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124, 11242–43 (2002)]. The OPH transforms toxic substances (purple molecule at left of OPH) to harmless by-products (yellow and red molecules at right). Applications such as this could optimize the functionality of countless enzymes for efficient production of energy, removal or inactivation of contaminants, and sequestration of carbon to mitigate global climate change. The knowledge gained from GTL also could be highly useful in food processing, pharmaceuticals, separations, and the production of industrial chemicals.

Citation :

Genomics:GTL Roadmap, U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science, August 2005, http://genomicscience.energy.gov/roadmap/

Credit or Source :

E. Ackerman, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Medium Res :

Medium-Resolution Image

Hi Res :

High-Resolution Image

Image Use and Credits
Almost all the images on these pages are original graphics created by the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Program's Genome Management Information System (GMIS). You will recognize GMIS images by their credit line. Permission to use these graphics is not needed, but please credit the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Programs and provide the website http://genomics.energy.gov. All other images were provided by third parties and not created by the U.S. Department of Energy. You must contact the person listed in the credit line before using those images.