A Pyrophosphate Based Energy Generating Module

: The most widely used transient form of stored energy in biological systems is the complex, organic molecule, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). However, the much smaller, simpler pyrophosphate (PPi) molecule could potentially serve as an inexpensive, high energy bond, ATP mimic. Pyruvate Phosphate Dikinase (PPDK), an enzyme found primarily in a small number of primitive protists reversibly transfers phosphate (Pi) from phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and PPi to AMP producing ATP. Alpha-Hemolysin pore-functionalized, lipid bilayers facilitated movement of PEP and PPi through 1-2 nm pores with concomitant Luciferase coupled ATP dependent generation of light. This is an important first step towards developing self-renewing power for nano/micro systems.