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Improving photosynthesis through the enhancement of Rubisco carboxylation capacity.
- Source :
-
Biochemical Society transactions [Biochem Soc Trans] 2021 Nov 01; Vol. 49 (5), pp. 2007-2019. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- Rising human population, along with the reduction in arable land and the impacts of global change, sets out the need for continuously improving agricultural resource use efficiency and crop yield (CY). Bioengineering approaches for photosynthesis optimization have largely demonstrated the potential for enhancing CY. This review is focused on the improvement of Rubisco functioning, which catalyzes the rate-limiting step of CO2 fixation required for plant growth, but also catalyzes the ribulose-bisphosphate oxygenation initiating the carbon and energy wasteful photorespiration pathway. Rubisco carboxylation capacity can be enhanced by engineering the Rubisco large and/or small subunit genes to improve its catalytic traits, or by engineering the mechanisms that provide enhanced Rubisco expression, activation and/or elevated [CO2] around the active sites to favor carboxylation over oxygenation. Recent advances have been made in the expression, assembly and activation of foreign (either natural or mutant) faster and/or more CO2-specific Rubisco versions. Some components of CO2 concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) from bacteria, algae and C4 plants has been successfully expressed in tobacco and rice. Still, none of the transformed plant lines expressing foreign Rubisco versions and/or simplified CCM components were able to grow faster than wild type plants under present atmospheric [CO2] and optimum conditions. However, the results obtained up to date suggest that it might be achievable in the near future. In addition, photosynthetic and yield improvements have already been observed when manipulating Rubisco quantity and activation degree in crops. Therefore, engineering Rubisco carboxylation capacity continues being a promising target for the improvement in photosynthesis and yield.<br /> (© 2021 The Author(s). Published by Portland Press Limited on behalf of the Biochemical Society.)
- Subjects :
- Carbon metabolism
Carbon Dioxide metabolism
Catalysis
Chloroplasts metabolism
Crops, Agricultural genetics
Crops, Agricultural growth & development
Crops, Agricultural metabolism
Enzyme Activation genetics
Oryza enzymology
Oryza genetics
Oryza growth & development
Plants, Genetically Modified enzymology
Plants, Genetically Modified growth & development
Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase genetics
Nicotiana enzymology
Nicotiana genetics
Nicotiana growth & development
Bioengineering methods
Crop Production methods
Photosynthesis genetics
Protein Engineering methods
Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase metabolism
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1470-8752
- Volume :
- 49
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Biochemical Society transactions
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 34623388
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20201056