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Sharkey TD. The end game(s) of photosynthetic carbon metabolism. Plant Physiol 2024; 195:67-78. [PMID: 38163636 PMCID: PMC11060661 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiad601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The year 2024 marks 70 years since the general outline of the carbon pathway in photosynthesis was published. Although several alternative pathways are now known, it is remarkable how many organisms use the reaction sequence described 70 yrs ago, which is now known as the Calvin-Benson cycle or variants such as the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle or Benson-Calvin cycle. However, once the carbon has entered the Calvin-Benson cycle and is converted to a 3-carbon sugar, it has many potential fates. This review will examine the last stages of photosynthetic metabolism in leaves. In land plants, this process mostly involves the production of sucrose provided by an endosymbiont (the chloroplast) to its host for use and transport to the rest of the plant. Photosynthetic metabolism also usually involves the synthesis of starch, which helps maintain respiration in the dark and enables the symbiont to supply sugars during both the day and night. Other end products made in the chloroplast are closely tied to photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. These include serine from photorespiration and various amino acids, fatty acids, isoprenoids, and shikimate pathway products. I also describe 2 pathways that can short circuit parts of the Calvin-Benson cycle. These final processes of photosynthetic metabolism play many important roles in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Sharkey
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Plant Resilience Institute, and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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2
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Stirbet A, Guo Y, Lazár D, Govindjee G. From leaf to multiscale models of photosynthesis: applications and challenges for crop improvement. Photosynth Res 2024:10.1007/s11120-024-01083-9. [PMID: 38619700 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-024-01083-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
To keep up with the growth of human population and to circumvent deleterious effects of global climate change, it is essential to enhance crop yield to achieve higher production. Here we review mathematical models of oxygenic photosynthesis that are extensively used, and discuss in depth a subset that accounts for diverse approaches providing solutions to our objective. These include models (1) to study different ways to enhance photosynthesis, such as fine-tuning antenna size, photoprotection and electron transport; (2) to bioengineer carbon metabolism; and (3) to evaluate the interactions between the process of photosynthesis and the seasonal crop dynamics, or those that have included statistical whole-genome prediction methods to quantify the impact of photosynthesis traits on the improvement of crop yield. We conclude by emphasizing that the results obtained in these studies clearly demonstrate that mathematical modelling is a key tool to examine different approaches to improve photosynthesis for better productivity, while effective multiscale crop models, especially those that also include remote sensing data, are indispensable to verify different strategies to obtain maximized crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ya Guo
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Process Control for Light Industry, Ministry of Education Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China
| | - Dušan Lazár
- Department of Biophysics, Faculty of Science, Palacký Univesity, Šlechtitelů 27, 78371, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Govindjee Govindjee
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Plant Biology, and the Center of Biophysics & Quantitative Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA.
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3
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Xu M, Hu J, Li H, Li K, Xu D. Research overview on the genetic mechanism underlying the biosynthesis of polysaccharide in tuber plants. PeerJ 2024; 12:e17052. [PMID: 38464751 PMCID: PMC10924778 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.17052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Tuber plants are of great significance in the world as human food crops. Polysaccharides, important metabolites in tuber plants, also serve as a source of innovative drugs with significant pharmacological effects. These drugs are particularly known for their immunomodulation and antitumor properties. To fully exploit the potential value of tuber plant polysaccharides and establish a synthetic system for their targeted synthesis, it is crucial to dissect their metabolic processes and genetic regulatory mechanisms. In this article, we provide a comprehensive summary of the basic pathways involved in the synthesis of various types of tuber plant polysaccharides. We also outline the key research progress that has been made in this area in recent years. We classify the main types and functions of tuber plant polysaccharides and analyze the biosynthetic processes and genetic regulation mechanisms of key enzymes involved in the metabolic pathways of starch, cellulose, pectin, and fructan in tuber plants. We have identified hexokinase and glycosyltransferase as the key enzymes involved in the polysaccharide synthesis process. By elucidating the synthesis pathway of polysaccharides in tuber plants and understanding the underlying mechanism of action of key enzymes in the metabolic pathway, we can provide a theoretical framework for enhancing the yield of polysaccharides and other metabolites in plant culture cells. This will ultimately lead to increased production efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengwei Xu
- Department of Medical Instrumental Analysis, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Jiao Hu
- Department of Medical Instrumental Analysis, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Hongwei Li
- Department of Medical Instrumental Analysis, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Kunqian Li
- Department of Medical Instrumental Analysis, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
| | - Delin Xu
- Department of Medical Instrumental Analysis, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
- Guizhou Provincial Demonstration Center of Basic Medical Experimental Teaching, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, China
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4
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Ludwig M, Hartwell J, Raines CA, Simkin AJ. The Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle in C 4 and Crassulacean acid metabolism species. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 155:10-22. [PMID: 37544777 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle is the ancestral CO2 assimilation pathway and is found in all photosynthetic organisms. Biochemical extensions to the CBB cycle have evolved that allow the resulting pathways to act as CO2 concentrating mechanisms, either spatially in the case of C4 photosynthesis or temporally in the case of Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM). While the biochemical steps in the C4 and CAM pathways are known, questions remain on their integration and regulation with CBB cycle activity. The application of omic and transgenic technologies is providing a more complete understanding of the biochemistry of C4 and CAM species and will also provide insight into the CBB cycle in these plants. As the global population increases, new solutions are required to increase crop yields and meet demands for food and other bioproducts. Previous work in C3 species has shown that increasing carbon assimilation through genetic manipulation of the CBB cycle can increase biomass and yield. There may also be options to improve photosynthesis in species using C4 photosynthesis and CAM through manipulation of the CBB cycle in these plants. This is an underexplored strategy and requires more basic knowledge of CBB cycle operation in these species to enable approaches for increased productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha Ludwig
- School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - James Hartwell
- Department of Biochemistry and Systems Biology, Institute of Systems, Molecular and Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 7ZB, UK
| | | | - Andrew J Simkin
- University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK; School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NJ, UK
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Gionfriddo M, Rhodes T, Whitney SM. Perspectives on improving crop Rubisco by directed evolution. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2024; 155:37-47. [PMID: 37085353 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Rubisco catalyses the entry of almost all CO2 into the biosphere and is often the rate-limiting step in plant photosynthesis and growth. Its notoriety as the most abundant protein on Earth stems from the slow and error-prone catalytic properties that require plants, cyanobacteria, algae and photosynthetic bacteria to produce it in high amounts. Efforts to improve the CO2-fixing properties of plant Rubisco has been spurred on by the discovery of more effective isoforms in some algae with the potential to significantly improve crop productivity. Incompatibilities between the protein folding machinery of leaf and algae chloroplasts have, so far, prevented efforts to transplant these more effective Rubisco variants into plants. There is therefore increasing interest in improving Rubisco catalysis by directed (laboratory) evolution. Here we review the advances being made in, and the ongoing challenges with, improving the solubility and/or carboxylation activity of differing non-plant Rubisco lineages. We provide perspectives on new opportunities for the directed evolution of crop Rubiscos and the existing plant transformation capabilities available to evaluate the extent to which Rubisco activity improvements can benefit agricultural productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Gionfriddo
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia; Department of Cellular Biochemistry, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Timothy Rhodes
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia
| | - Spencer M Whitney
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.
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Gawarecka K, Ahn JH. RuBisCO Depletion and Subcellular Fractionation for Enhanced Florigen Detection in Arabidopsis. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2795:227-238. [PMID: 38594542 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3814-9_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
In plants, complex signaling networks monitor and respond to environmental cues to determine the optimal time for the transition from the vegetative to reproductive phase. Understanding these networks requires robust tools to examine the levels and subcellular localization of key factors. The florigen FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) is a crucial regulator of flowering time and occurs in soluble and membrane-bound forms. At low ambient temperatures, the ratio of these forms of FT undergoes a significant shift, which leads to a delay in the onset of flowering. To investigate these changes in FT localization, epitope-tagged FT protein can be isolated from plants by subcellular fractionation and its localization examined by immunoblot analysis of the resulting fractions. However, the highly abundant protein ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) can interfere with methods to detect and characterize low-abundance proteins such as FT. In this chapter, we present a method for analyzing the ratio of HA-tagged FT (HA:FT) in different subcellular fractions while mitigating the interference from RuBisCO by using protamine sulfate (PS) to deplete RuBisCO during protein purification, thereby enhancing HA:FT detection in fractionated samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ji Hoon Ahn
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea.
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Bouvier JW. Evolution: Unearthing missing links in the origin of our planet's primary carbon-fixing enzyme. Curr Biol 2023; 33:R1301-R1303. [PMID: 38113844 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Form I rubisco underpins life on Earth, but the origins of its anomalous and highly complex multimeric structure have long proven elusive. New research helps to unravel this enigma by uncovering key missing links in the enzyme's evolutionary history.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacques W Bouvier
- Department of Biology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.
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8
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Machín A, Cotto M, Ducongé J, Márquez F. Artificial Photosynthesis: Current Advancements and Future Prospects. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:298. [PMID: 37504186 PMCID: PMC10807655 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8030298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial photosynthesis is a technology with immense potential that aims to emulate the natural photosynthetic process. The process of natural photosynthesis involves the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy, which is stored in organic compounds. Catalysis is an essential aspect of artificial photosynthesis, as it facilitates the reactions that convert solar energy into chemical energy. In this review, we aim to provide an extensive overview of recent developments in the field of artificial photosynthesis by catalysis. We will discuss the various catalyst types used in artificial photosynthesis, including homogeneous catalysts, heterogeneous catalysts, and biocatalysts. Additionally, we will explore the different strategies employed to enhance the efficiency and selectivity of catalytic reactions, such as the utilization of nanomaterials, photoelectrochemical cells, and molecular engineering. Lastly, we will examine the challenges and opportunities of this technology as well as its potential applications in areas such as renewable energy, carbon capture and utilization, and sustainable agriculture. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical analysis of state-of-the-art methods in artificial photosynthesis by catalysis, as well as to identify key research directions for future advancements in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abniel Machín
- Divisionof Natural Sciences and Technology, Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Cupey Campus, San Juan, PR 00926, USA
| | - María Cotto
- Nanomaterials Research Group, Department of Natural Sciences and Technology, Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Gurabo Campus, Gurabo, PR 00778, USA; (M.C.); (J.D.)
| | - José Ducongé
- Nanomaterials Research Group, Department of Natural Sciences and Technology, Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Gurabo Campus, Gurabo, PR 00778, USA; (M.C.); (J.D.)
| | - Francisco Márquez
- Nanomaterials Research Group, Department of Natural Sciences and Technology, Universidad Ana G. Méndez-Gurabo Campus, Gurabo, PR 00778, USA; (M.C.); (J.D.)
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9
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Goktayoglu E, Oztop MH, Ozcan S. Proteomics Approach to Differentiate Protein Extraction Methods in Sugar Beet Leaves. J Agric Food Chem 2023. [PMID: 37276611 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c09190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Interest in alternative plant-based protein sources is continuously growing. Sugar beet leaves have the potential to satisfy that demand due to their high protein content. They are considered as agricultural waste and utilizing them as protein sources can bring them back to the food chain. In this study, isoelectric-point-precipitation, heat-coagulation, ammonium-sulfate precipitation, high-pressure-assisted isoelectric-point precipitation, and high-pressure-assisted heat coagulation methods were used to extract proteins from sugar beet leaves. A mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach was used for comprehensive protein characterization. The analyses yielded 817 proteins, the most comprehensive protein profile on sugar beet leaves to date. Although the total protein contents were comparable, there was a significant difference between the methods for low-abundance proteins. High-pressure-assisted methods showed elevated levels of proteins predominantly located in the chloroplast. Here we showed for the first time that the extraction/precipitation methods may result in different protein profiles that potentially affect the physical and nutritional properties of functional products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ece Goktayoglu
- Department of Food Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800 Ankara, Turkiye
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Mecit Halil Oztop
- Department of Food Engineering, Middle East Technical University, 06800 Ankara, Turkiye
| | - Sureyya Ozcan
- Department of Chemistry, Middle East Technical University, 06800 Ankara, Turkiye
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Sparrow-Muñoz I, Chen TC, Burgess SJ. Recent developments in the engineering of Rubisco activase for enhanced crop yield. Biochem Soc Trans 2023:BST20221281. [PMID: 36929563 DOI: 10.1042/BST20221281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Rubisco activase (RCA) catalyzes the release of inhibitory sugar phosphates from ribulose-1,6-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and can play an important role in biochemical limitations of photosynthesis under dynamic light and elevated temperatures. There is interest in increasing RCA activity to improve crop productivity, but a lack of understanding about the regulation of photosynthesis complicates engineering strategies. In this review, we discuss work relevant to improving RCA with a focus on advances in understanding the structural cause of RCA instability under heat stress and the regulatory interactions between RCA and components of photosynthesis. This reveals substantial variation in RCA thermostability that can be influenced by single amino acid substitutions, and that engineered variants can perform better in vitro and in vivo under heat stress. In addition, there are indications RCA activity is controlled by transcriptional, post-transcriptional, post-translational, and spatial regulation, which may be important for balancing between carbon fixation and light capture. Finally, we provide an overview of findings from recent field experiments and consider the requirements for commercial validation as part of efforts to increase crop yields in the face of global climate change.
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Waheeda K, Kitchel H, Wang Q, Chiu PL. Molecular mechanism of Rubisco activase: Dynamic assembly and Rubisco remodeling. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1125922. [PMID: 36845545 PMCID: PMC9951593 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1125922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco) enzyme is the limiting step of photosynthetic carbon fixation, and its activation is regulated by its co-evolved chaperone, Rubisco activase (Rca). Rca removes the intrinsic sugar phosphate inhibitors occupying the Rubisco active site, allowing RuBP to split into two 3-phosphoglycerate (3PGA) molecules. This review summarizes the evolution, structure, and function of Rca and describes the recent findings regarding the mechanistic model of Rubisco activation by Rca. New knowledge in these areas can significantly enhance crop engineering techniques used to improve crop productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazi Waheeda
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States,Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Heidi Kitchel
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States,Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
| | - Quan Wang
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Po-Lin Chiu
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States,Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States,*Correspondence: Po-Lin Chiu,
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Carmo-Silva E, Sharwood RE. Rubisco and its regulation-major advances to improve carbon assimilation and productivity. J Exp Bot 2023; 74:507-509. [PMID: 36629907 PMCID: PMC9833034 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
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