Crystal structure of PCO4, with comparison of ‘wild type’ (WT) plant and affected plant.
Tweaking proteins in staple foods could help feed a warming world
Enzymes that control a plant’s response to lower oxygen levels could be manipulated to make vital crops resistant to the impacts of flooding triggered by climate change, new research shows.
Co-author Dr Mark White in the School of Chemistry at the University of Sydney said: “Climate change is a major global issue, not least for its impact on food security. We hope these findings can help produce flood-tolerant crops to help mitigate the devasting social and economic impact of extreme weather events on food production.”
The research, largely done at the University of Oxford, is published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.
Climate change has increased the number and intensity of global flooding events, threatening food security through significant crop loss. Plants, including staple crops such as rice, wheat and barley, can survive temporary periods of flooding by activating energy pathways that don’t rely on air in response to the low oxygen conditions in water.
These responses are controlled by oxygen-sensing enzymes called the Plant Cysteine Oxidases (PCOs), which use oxygen to regulate the stability of proteins that control gene activity.
The research describes the molecular structures of the PCOs for the first time, identifying chemical features that are required for enzyme activity.
“The results provide a platform for future efforts to manipulate the enzyme function in an attempt to create flood-resistant crops that can mitigate the impact of extreme weather events,” Dr White said.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Crop resistance to flooding
- China approves first gene-edited wheat in step to open up GM tech to food crops
China has approved the safety of gene-edited wheat for the first time as Beijing cautiously moves forward with commercial growing of genetically modified food crops.
- 12 Reasons to Plant Native Instead of Non-Native Plants
Choosing native plants for the garden protects the planet, helps wildlife, and lessens outdoor chores without sacrificing curb appeal.
- Direct seeding of rice needs a fillip to improve yield
THE prevailing water crisis is posing the biggest threat to agro-economic sustainability and socio-economic stability in India. This problem ...
- African farmers look to the past and the future to address climate change
From ancient fertilizer methods in Zimbabwe to new greenhouse technology in Somalia, farmers across the heavily agriculture-reliant African continent are looking to the past and future to respond to ...
- Is it possible to grow crops using ‘Quantum Technology’?
Another company representative stated that this quantum empowerment technology not only shortens the crop growth cycle and increases yield but also helps crops resist drought, flooding, lodging, and ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Crop resistance to flooding
[google_news title=”” keyword=”crop resistance to flooding” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Plant Cysteine Oxidases
- Plant cell biology articles from across Nature Portfolio
Plant cell biology is the study of all aspects of plant cells. It is particularly concerned with structure, growth, division, signalling, differentiation and death of plant cells. Arabidopsis α ...
- 12 Reasons to Plant Native Instead of Non-Native Plants
In recent years, consumers have trended toward favoring sustainable gardening, and using native plants—species that occur naturally in their environment. Native plants offer many advantages (and ...
- 6 Potted Plants That Will Keep Bugs Away
If you're trying to get ahead of your summer bug problem, the fix might be hiding in a plant store or flower shop. While exterminators and at-home chemical sprays are effective at keeping bugs ...
- Philadelphia's "plant hotel" takes plant sitting to the next level
Instead, Foliage Chestnut Hill caters exclusively to leafy lodgers – plants. Foliage is a plant store, first and foremost, offering all kinds of succulents, palms, cacti and other potted plants.
- Common Garden Plants That Can Send Your Dog into Cardiac Arrest
However, certain types of plants are dangerous to dogs and can make your backyard a safety hazard. Experts advise that some spring plants and flowers, both indoors and outdoors, can be harmful to ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Plant Cysteine Oxidases
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Plant Cysteine Oxidases” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]