In a recent experiment, biologist Sachihiro Matsunaga and a team of researchers transplanted chloroplasts from algae into hamster cells. Inside the hamsters, the chloroplasts were able to convert light into energy for two days. This discovery builds on Matsunaga’s early study on sacoglossan sea slugs that “steal” chloroplasts from algae and use them for energy. The researchers improved on unsuccessful past transplanting methods by using chloroplasts from red algae that live in acidic volcanic hot springs and adjusted the algae to help hamster cells take in the chloroplasts. This allowed them to transplant the chloroplasts successfully. Animals can’t, however, start only using transplanted chloroplasts because animal cells don’t have the genes to produce proteins that chloroplasts need to function long-term. Matsunaga’s team wants to fix this by putting photosynthesis-maintaining genes into animal cells. Still, humans will not be able to ever only use chloroplasts because people would need a much larger surface area covered with chloroplasts to make enough energy.
Shifting gears, this reminds me of learning about photosynthesis in our AP Bio Cellular Respiration Unit. Photosynthesis is an anabolic process that creates glucose and an oxygen waste product. To do photosynthesis, electrons and the H+ ions associated with them are transferred between compounds and elements. Losing elections is oxidation and gaining them is reduction. When an electron is lost it must be gained by something else. In photosynthesis, water is oxidized and the electrons lost go to reduce carbon dioxide into glucose.
In conclusion, I think it would be cool if animals could use chloroplasts along with mitochondria to make energy! There are probably so many applications that transplanting chloroplasts could have if the process gets advanced enough. What do you think?
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Well done, Kuromosomes! Your explanation of how Matsunaga’s team used red algae chloroplasts adapted for acidic environments was fascinating. It’s exciting how they built on the sacoglossan sea slugs’ natural process to innovate chloroplast transplantation in animal cells. This reminded me of gene editing because it’s been a major scientific discussion in the community. CRISPR has already allowed precise genetic modifications, and I wonder if it could be used to address the issue of animals lacking the genes necessary for chloroplasts to function long-term. CRISPR has been major in advancing metabolic engineering, which could make us a lot closer to introducing photosynthesis-maintaining genes into animal cells (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5979482/). If researchers could combine CRISPR with chloroplast transplantation, it might overcome the barriers you mentioned about certain genres and energy levels. However, of course, this raises ethical concerns about altering animal genomes for experiments. What do you think? Could the possible benefits, such as energy production or medical breakthroughs, outweigh the risks?