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Zhou H, Akçay E, Helliker B. Optimal coordination and reorganization of photosynthetic properties in C 4 grasses. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:796-811. [PMID: 36478594 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Each of >20 independent evolutions of C4 photosynthesis in grasses required reorganization of the Calvin-Benson-cycle (CB-cycle) within the leaf, along with coordination of C4 -cycle enzymes with the CB-cycle to maximize CO2 assimilation. Considering the vast amount of time over which C4 evolved, we hypothesized (i) trait divergences exist within and across lineages with both C4 and closely related C3 grasses, (ii) trends in traits after C4 evolution yield the optimization of C4 through time, and (iii) the presence/absence of trends in coordination between the CB-cycle and C4 -cycle provides information on the strength of selection. To address these hypotheses, we used a combination of optimality modelling, physiological measurements and phylogenetic-comparative-analysis. Photosynthesis was optimized after the evolution of C4 causing diversification in maximal assimilation, electron transport, Rubisco carboxylation, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and chlorophyll within C4 lineages. Both theory and measurements indicated a higher light-reaction to CB-cycle ratio (Jatpmax /Vcmax ) in C4 than C3 . There were no evolutionary trends with photosynthetic coordination between the CB-cycle, light reactions and the C4 -cycle, suggesting strong initial selection for coordination. The coordination of CB-C4 -cycles (Vpmax /Vcmax ) was optimal for CO2 of 200 ppm, not to current conditions. Our model indicated that a higher than optimal Vpmax /Vcmax affects assimilation minimally, thus lessening recent selection to decrease Vpmax /Vcmax .
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoran Zhou
- School of Earth System Science, Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Erol Akçay
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brent Helliker
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Crawford JD, Cousins AB. Limitation of C4 photosynthesis by low carbonic anhydrase activity increases with temperature but does not influence mesophyll CO2 conductance. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:927-938. [PMID: 34698863 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) in C4 plants is initiated by the uptake of bicarbonate (HCO3-) via phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC). Generation of HCO3- for PEPC is determined by the interaction between mesophyll CO2 conductance and the hydration of CO2 to HCO3- by carbonic anhydrase (CA). Genetic reduction of CA was previously shown not to limit C4 photosynthesis under ambient atmospheric partial pressures of CO2 (pCO2). However, CA activity varies widely across C4 species and it is unknown if there are specific environmental conditions (e.g. high temperature) where CA may limit HCO3- production for C4 photosynthesis. Additionally, CA activity has been suggested to influence mesophyll conductance, but this has not been experimentally tested. We hypothesize that CA activity can limit PEPC at high temperatures, particularly at low pCO2, but does not directly influence gm. Here we tested the influence of genetically reduced CA activity on photosynthesis and gm in the C4 plant Zea mays under a range of pCO2 and temperatures. Reduced CA activity limited HCO3- production for C4 photosynthesis at low pCO2 as temperatures increased, but did not influence mesophyll conductance. Therefore, high leaf CA activity may enhance C4 photosynthesis under high temperature when stomatal conductance restricts the availability of atmospheric CO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph D Crawford
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Sales CRG, Wang Y, Evers JB, Kromdijk J. Improving C4 photosynthesis to increase productivity under optimal and suboptimal conditions. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:5942-5960. [PMID: 34268575 PMCID: PMC8411859 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Although improving photosynthetic efficiency is widely recognized as an underutilized strategy to increase crop yields, research in this area is strongly biased towards species with C3 photosynthesis relative to C4 species. Here, we outline potential strategies for improving C4 photosynthesis to increase yields in crops by reviewing the major bottlenecks limiting the C4 NADP-malic enzyme pathway under optimal and suboptimal conditions. Recent experimental results demonstrate that steady-state C4 photosynthesis under non-stressed conditions can be enhanced by increasing Rubisco content or electron transport capacity, both of which may also stimulate CO2 assimilation at supraoptimal temperatures. Several additional putative bottlenecks for photosynthetic performance under drought, heat, or chilling stress or during photosynthetic induction await further experimental verification. Based on source-sink interactions in maize, sugarcane, and sorghum, alleviating these photosynthetic bottlenecks during establishment and growth of the harvestable parts are likely to improve yield. The expected benefits are also shown to be augmented by the increasing trend in planting density, which increases the impact of photosynthetic source limitation on crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina R G Sales
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
| | - Yu Wang
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Jochem B Evers
- Centre for Crops Systems Analysis (WUR), Wageningen University, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes Kromdijk
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EA, UK
- Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
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Sonawane BV, Koteyeva NK, Johnson DM, Cousins AB. Differences in leaf anatomy determines temperature response of leaf hydraulic and mesophyll CO 2 conductance in phylogenetically related C 4 and C 3 grass species. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:1802-1814. [PMID: 33605441 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Leaf hydraulic and mesophyll CO2 conductance are both influenced by leaf anatomical traits, however it is poorly understood how the temperature response of these conductances differs between C4 and C3 species with distinct leaf anatomy. This study investigated the temperature response of leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf ), stomatal (gs ) and mesophyll (gm ) conductance to CO2 , and leaf anatomical traits in phylogenetically related Panicum antidotale (C4 ) and P. bisulcatum (C3 ) grasses. The C4 species had lower hydraulic conductance outside xylem (Kox ) and Kleaf compared with the C3 species. However, the C4 species had higher gm compared with the C3 species. Traits associated with leaf water movement, Kleaf and Kox , increased with temperature more in the C3 than in the C4 species, whereas traits related to carbon uptake, Anet and gm , increased more with temperature in the C4 than the C3 species. Our findings demonstrate that, in addition to a CO2 concentrating mechanism, outside-xylem leaf anatomy in the C4 species P. antidotale favours lower water movement through the leaf and stomata that provides an additional advantage for greater leaf carbon uptake relative to water loss with increasing leaf temperature than in the C3 species P. bisulcatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balasaheb V Sonawane
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
| | - Nuria K Koteyeva
- Laboratory of Anatomy and Morphology, V. L. Komarov Botanical Institute of Russian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Popov Street 2, St Petersburg, 197376, Russia
| | - Daniel M Johnson
- Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Asaph B Cousins
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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Dreyer A, Schackmann A, Kriznik A, Chibani K, Wesemann C, Vogelsang L, Beyer A, Dietz KJ. Thiol Redox Regulation of Plant β-Carbonic Anhydrase. Biomolecules 2020; 10:E1125. [PMID: 32751472 PMCID: PMC7463553 DOI: 10.3390/biom10081125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
β-carbonic anhydrases (βCA) accelerate the equilibrium formation between CO2 and carbonate. Two plant βCA isoforms are targeted to the chloroplast and represent abundant proteins in the range of >1% of chloroplast protein. While their function in gas exchange and photosynthesis is well-characterized in carbon concentrating mechanisms of cyanobacteria and plants with C4-photosynthesis, their function in plants with C3-photosynthesis is less clear. The presence of conserved and surface-exposed cysteinyl residues in the βCA-structure urged to the question whether βCA is subject to redox regulation. Activity measurements revealed reductive activation of βCA1, whereas oxidized βCA1 was inactive. Mutation of cysteinyl residues decreased βCA1 activity, in particular C280S, C167S, C230S, and C257S. High concentrations of dithiothreitol or low amounts of reduced thioredoxins (TRXs) activated oxidized βCA1. TRX-y1 and TRX-y2 most efficiently activated βCA1, followed by TRX-f1 and f2 and NADPH-dependent TRX reductase C (NTRC). High light irradiation did not enhance βCA activity in wildtype Arabidopsis, but surprisingly in βca1 knockout plants, indicating light-dependent regulation. The results assign a role of βCA within the thiol redox regulatory network of the chloroplast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Dreyer
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants, Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (A.D.); (A.S.); (K.C.); (C.W.); (L.V.)
| | - Alexander Schackmann
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants, Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (A.D.); (A.S.); (K.C.); (C.W.); (L.V.)
| | - Alexandre Kriznik
- CNRS, INSERM, IBSLor, Biophysics and Structural Biology, Université de Lorraine, F-5400 Nancy, France;
| | - Kamel Chibani
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants, Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (A.D.); (A.S.); (K.C.); (C.W.); (L.V.)
| | - Corinna Wesemann
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants, Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (A.D.); (A.S.); (K.C.); (C.W.); (L.V.)
| | - Lara Vogelsang
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants, Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (A.D.); (A.S.); (K.C.); (C.W.); (L.V.)
| | - André Beyer
- Physics of Supramolecular Systems and Surfaces, Faculty of Physics, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany;
| | - Karl-Josef Dietz
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology of Plants, Faculty of Biology, University of Bielefeld, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany; (A.D.); (A.S.); (K.C.); (C.W.); (L.V.)
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