Red Rubiscos and opportunities for engineering green plants.

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Plant Science
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is crucial for photosynthesis but often inefficient, limiting crop growth.
• Form I Rubiscos are categorized into 'red' and 'green' types, with red-type Rubiscos (e.g., Form IC, ID) found in algae and bacteria, and green-type (Form IA, IB) in plants and cyanobacteria.
• Eukaryotic red-type Rubiscos possess superior kinetic properties, including higher specificity and catalytic efficiency, compared to green-type Rubiscos.

Approach:

• This review synthesizes current knowledge on red-type Rubisco distribution, biogenesis, and structure-function relationships.
• It examines the molecular and evolutionary divergence between red- and green-type Rubisco lineages.
• The study identifies opportunities and challenges for applying red-type Rubisco characteristics to enhance crop productivity.

Key Points:

• Red-type Rubiscos exhibit higher CO2-fixing efficiency and specificity than their green-type counterparts.
• Functional expression of high-performing red-type Rubisco in plant chloroplasts remains a significant challenge.
• Understanding evolutionary divergence is key to unlocking red-type Rubisco's potential for crop improvement.

Conclusions:

• Red-type Rubiscos represent a promising avenue for boosting photosynthetic carbon assimilation and crop yields.
• Further research into the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary history of red-type Rubiscos is essential.
• Overcoming expression barriers is critical for translating the kinetic advantages of red-type Rubisco into agricultural benefits.