Abstract
The threat to global food security of stagnating yields and population growth makes increasing crop productivity a critical goal over the coming decades. One key target for improving crop productivity and yields is increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis. Central to photosynthesis is Rubisco, which is a critical but often rate-limiting component. Here, we present full Rubisco catalytic properties measured at three temperatures for 75 plants species representing both crops and undomesticated plants from diverse climates. Some newly characterized Rubiscos were naturally "better" compared to crop enzymes and have the potential to improve crop photosynthetic efficiency. The temperature response of the various catalytic parameters was largely consistent across the diverse range of species, though absolute values showed significant variation in Rubisco catalysis, even between closely related species. An analysis of residue differences among the species characterized identified a number of candidate amino acid substitutions that will aid in advancing engineering of improved Rubisco in crop systems. This study provides new insights on the range of Rubisco catalysis and temperature response present in nature, and provides new information to include in models from leaf to canopy and ecosystem scale.
Highlights
In a changing climate and under pressure from a population set to hit nine billion by 2050, global food security will require massive changes to the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed (Ort et al., 2015)
Rubisco is considered to exhibit comparatively poor catalysis, in terms of catalytic rate, specificity, and CO 2 affinity (Tcherkez et al, 2006; Andersson, 2008), leading to the suggestion that even small increases in catalytic efficiency may result in substantial improvements to carbon assimilation across a growing season (Zhu et al, 2004; Parry et al, 2013; Galmés et al, 2014a; Carmo-Silva et al, 2015)
This is the largest dataset of complete Rubisco catalytic properties produced to date
Summary
In a changing climate and under pressure from a population set to hit nine billion by 2050, global food security will require massive changes to the way food is produced, distributed, and consumed (Ort et al., 2015). As the gatekeeper of carbon entry into the biosphere and often acting as the rate-limiting step of photosynthesis, Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase), the most abundant enzyme on the planet (Ellis, 1979), is an obvious and important target for improving crop photosynthetic efficiency. Rubisco is considered to exhibit comparatively poor catalysis, in terms of catalytic rate, specificity, and CO 2 affinity (Tcherkez et al, 2006; Andersson, 2008), leading to the suggestion that even small increases in catalytic efficiency may result in substantial improvements to carbon assimilation across a growing season (Zhu et al, 2004; Parry et al, 2013; Galmés et al, 2014a; Carmo-Silva et al., 2015). If combined with complimentary changes such as optimising other components of the Calvin
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
