via IT
A group of proteins in plant cells plays a vastly more important role in regulation of photosynthesis than once thought, according to new research at the University of Copenhagen. The research is an important step towards fully understanding photosynthesis regulation and increasing CO2 uptake in plants to benefit the climate.
Imagine being able to grow plants that could absorb even more CO2 from Earth’s atmosphere and thereby help solve the world’s climate problems. Humans have selected, bred and optimized plants to increase food production and ensure for our survival for thousands of years.
But the most important and fundamental function of life on Earth – photosynthesis – has not been relevant with regards to plant selection or breeding until now, an age when greenhouse gas emissions from human activities threaten our planet. With new technologies at hand, scientists around the world are now working to understand the internal processes of plants that drive photosynthesis.
In a new study published in the scientific journal PNAS, researchers from the University of Copenhagen’s Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences have just discovered that a group of proteins in plant leaf cells, called CURT1, plays a much more important role in photosynthesis than once thought.
“We have discovered that CURT1 proteins control a plant’s development of green leaves already from the seed stage. Thus, the proteins have a major influence on how effectively photosynthesis is established,” explains Associate Professor Mathias Pribil, the study’s lead author.
Proteins that kickstart photosynthesis
CURT1 proteins were previously believed to play a more modest role and only be present in fully-developed leaves. But using state-of-the-art Imaging techniques (photography and computer equipment), the researchers zoomed 30,000x in on the growth of a series of experimental thale cress (Arabidopsis) plants. This allowed them to study the plants at a molecular level. The researchers could see that CURT1 proteins were present from the earliest stages of their plants’ lives.
“Emerging from the soil is a critical moment for the plant, as it is struck by sunlight and rapidly needs to get photosynthesis going to survive. Here we can see that CURT1 proteins coordinate processes that set photosynthesis in motion and allow the plant to survive, something we didn’t know before,” explains Mathias Pribil.
Photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts, 0.005 mm long elliptical bodies in plant cells that are a kind of organ within the cells of a plant leaf. Within each chloroplast, a membrane harbours proteins and the other functions that make photosynthesis possible.
“CURT1 proteins control the shape of this membrane, making it easier for other proteins in a plant cell to move around and perform important tasks surrounding photosynthesis, depending on how the environment around the plant changes. This could be to repair light harvesting protein complexes when the sunlight is intense or to turn up a chloroplast’s ability to harvest light energy when sunlight is weak,” explains Pribil.
Improved CO2 uptake in the future
The new finding provides deeper insight into Earth’s most important biochemical reaction. Indeed, without plants, neither animals nor humans would exist on our planet. Thus far, the result only applies to the thale cress plant, but Pribil would be “very surprised” if the importance of CURT1 proteins for photosynthesis didn’t extend to other plants as well.
“This is an important step on the way to understanding all of the components that control photosynthesis. The question is whether we can use this new knowledge to improve the CURT1 protein complex in plants in general, so as to optimize photosynthesis,” says Mathias Pribil, who adds:
“Much of our research revolves around making photosynthesis more efficient so that plants can absorb more CO2. Just as we have selected and bred the best crops throughout the history of agriculture, it is now about helping nature become the best possible CO2 absorber,” says Mathias Pribil.
Original Article: New knowledge about our Earth’s most important biochemical reaction: A step towards increasing CO2 uptake in plants
More from: University of Copenhagen
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Increasing CO2 uptake in plants
- MIT Technology Review
Ethanol makers who use sustainably produced corn can now qualify for big federal tax credits, but critics are skeptical of the carbon benefits.
- Ancient farm practice could help sustain future humans on Mars
“The best ‘Martian environment’ is actually simply a greenhouse with controlled conditions including temperature, humidity, and gasses,” Rebeca Gonçalves, a study co-author and astrobiologist at ...
- Engineered increase in mesophyll conductance improves photosynthetic efficiency in field trial
It is possible to engineer increased mesophyll conductance in plants according to new research from the University of Illinois. Mesophyll conductance plays a key role in photosynthesis and refers to ...
- Climate change and mercury pollution stressed plants for millions of years
Extreme climate change from the release of carbon dioxide, degradation of the ozone layer due to ... global warming and widespread mercury pollution that continued to stress plants long after volcanic ...
- Can this ocean-based carbon plant help save the world? Some scientists are raising red flags
On a slice of the ocean front in west Singapore, a startup is building a plant to turn carbon dioxide from air and ... the demand for clean energy is increasing exponentially.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Increasing CO2 uptake in plants
[google_news title=”” keyword=”increasing CO2 uptake in plants” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Making photosynthesis more efficient
- The Best Gift for a Plant Whisperer This Mother’s Day
We rounded up the best Mother's Day gifts for plant whisperers, including unique planters, aprons, gardening accessories, and more.
- The 8 Best Grow Lights for Countertop Herbs, Small Gardens, and Helping Indoor Plants Thrive
Narrow spectrum lights are noted for serious gardeners and plant nerds who need to support different stages of development. Blue-light spectrum (450-490 nm) grow lights are used for early-stage growth ...
- How a cyanobacterium manages iron scarcity makes it the most successful photosynthetic organism on Earth
The sea is the world's largest ecosystem, and it harbors two photosynthetic organisms that produce approximately half of the oxygen on Earth. The cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is the most abundant ...
- Neither Plants nor Animals, These Ocean Organisms Protect Their Ecosystems against Heat Waves
Mixotrophs, which have characteristics of both animals and plants, could help blunt the effects of marine heat waves on ocean ecosystems ...
- Plants cleverly adapt their photosynthesis to changes in light
Plants use the process of photosynthesis to convert light into ... This leads to a rapid drop in pH within the chloroplast, making it more acidic. Increased light also means a surge in the ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Making photosynthesis more efficient
[google_news title=”” keyword=”making photosynthesis more efficient” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]