The remarkable ability of crops to convert sunlight into sustenance is a truly impressive capacity. Researchers have successfully replicated this phenomenon in animal cells, demonstrating their ability to perform the same function.
Photosynthesis in crops and algae occurs through the actions of tiny organelles called chloroplasts, converting daylight into oxygen and releasing chemical energy. Despite the unclear provenance of these structures, researchers propose that they may have arisen from photosynthetic microorganisms engulfed by ancient cells.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have made a groundbreaking breakthrough, rewriting the very fabric of evolutionary history by revisiting their ancestors’ circumstances. Researchers successfully introduced chloroplasts into hamster cells, which produced energy through photosynthesis for at least two days.
According to Professor Sachihiro Matsunaga, this marks the first reported instance of photosynthetic electron transport detected in chloroplasts embedded within animal cells.
The idea was that animal cells would quickly digest the chloroplasts following their introduction? Notwithstanding our findings, it emerged that these organisms persisted in functioning for a period of up to two days, with electron transport during photosynthesis taking place.
While some animals have already leveraged the benefits of photosynthesis, one notable example is found among big clams, which harbour algae in a mutually beneficial partnership. Researchers have attempted to infuse photosynthetic capabilities into various cell types on several occasions, not just for the first time. Prior studies had successfully achieved a semblance
Despite recent breakthroughs in reprogramming animal cells to produce chlorophyll and other plant-like molecules, transplanting functional chloroplasts into animal cells remains a significant scientific hurdle? Researchers faced a significant challenge in that most algal chloroplasts become non-viable below 37°C (98.6°F), while animal cells require lower temperatures for cultivation.
The choice prompted them to select chloroplasts from the Cyanidioschyzon merolae species of algae, which thrives in the extreme environments of highly acidic and hot volcanic springs. While it thrives in temperatures around 42 degrees Celsius (107.6 degrees Fahrenheit), it remains vibrant at significantly lower temperatures.
Following the isolation of the algae’s chloroplasts, researchers injected them into hamster cells and proceeded to cultivate them over an extended period. Utilizing mild pulses, researchers examined photosynthetic activity and used imaging techniques to map the location and architecture of chloroplasts within cells throughout this critical period.
Despite being kept without nutrients for two days, the organelles continued to produce vital energy. Researchers found that the supposedly “planimal”-labeled cells were actually dividing earlier than expected for regular hamster cells, implying that the chloroplasts might have been providing a carbon-rich resource that served as an energy source for the host cells.
Upon closer inspection, researchers found that a significant majority of chloroplasts had relocated to encircle the cells’ nuclei, while mitochondria, responsible for converting carbohydrates into cellular energy, had also congregated around these chloroplasts. While the workforce hypothesizes the possibility of a chemical interaction between subcellular structures, further investigation is required to confirm or refute this notion.
Two days into the experiment, however, the chloroplasts started breaking down, and by the fourth day, it seemed that photosynthesis had completely ceased. As a result, it’s likely that animal cells are digesting the unfamiliar organelles; nevertheless, the research suggests that genetic modifications to the animal cells might potentially circumvent this process.
While some might imagine a futuristic scenario where individuals with virgin skin can thrive in sunlight alone, the researchers actually envision practical applications in tissue engineering. Lab-grown tissue often comprises multiple layers of cells, posing challenges in delivering oxygen throughout the entire structure.
Researchers suggest that incorporating chloroplast-implanted cells into the mixture could potentially facilitate oxygen supply through photosynthesis, triggered by gentle light exposure, thereby promoting optimal tissue conditions for growth and development.
Notwithstanding this breakthrough analysis, it fundamentally reshapes numerous long-held assumptions regarding the scope of life’s possibilities. And while this may seem a far-fetched idea, it presents the intriguing possibility that animals could potentially inherit the sun-activated abilities exhibited by plants.
