Organic Iron Sulfur Framework With Electron Transfer Capacity Promotes Photosynthetic Carbon Fixation

Iron-sulfur clusters (ISCs) are crucial prosthetic groups in natural proteins that participate in vital electron transfer processes. Although various artificial ISCs with catalytic activity have been constructed, synthesizing stable ISCs under aerobic conditions remains a significant challenge. Here, we report a hydrothermal synthesis strategy to produce metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) containing discrete ISCs, bridging the gap between biological ISCs and conventional iron sulfide minerals. Using terephthalic acid (TPA) as the organic linker to encapsulate ISCs, we constructed MOF-like nanosheets termed Organic Iron-Sulfur Frameworks (OISF). Comprehensive characterization, including Mössbauer spectroscopy have confirmed the crystal structure of OISF containing [2Fe-2S] cores. The OISF exhibits robust electron transfer capability toward various acceptors, mediated by the dynamic formation of interlayer S─S bonds. Leveraging this property, OISF is combined with chloroplasts to enhance dark reactions in vitro and applied as a fertilizer to promote the growth of spinach in vivo, highlighting the potential of stable ISCs in biochemical and industrial applications.