Ajwal Dsouza
@dsouzaajwal.bsky.social
This work sets a new foundation for Rubisco engineering by creating a comprehensive map of how single-point mutations affects the enzyme's function, suggesting new ways to enhance plant photosynthesis and growth.
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✅Follow for summaries of latest plant science research
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✅Follow for summaries of latest plant science research
March 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
This work sets a new foundation for Rubisco engineering by creating a comprehensive map of how single-point mutations affects the enzyme's function, suggesting new ways to enhance plant photosynthesis and growth.
8/8
----
✅Follow for summaries of latest plant science research
8/8
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✅Follow for summaries of latest plant science research
Mutations that improved CO₂ affinity also decreased reaction rate of Rubisco, showing Rubisco's evolutionary trade-off between CO2 affinity and reaction rate.
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March 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Mutations that improved CO₂ affinity also decreased reaction rate of Rubisco, showing Rubisco's evolutionary trade-off between CO2 affinity and reaction rate.
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They found that most mutations are harmful to Rubisco’s performance, while some have no effect. But, few single amino acid mutants showed 2x—3x improvement in Rubisco's affinity for CO2.
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March 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
They found that most mutations are harmful to Rubisco’s performance, while some have no effect. But, few single amino acid mutants showed 2x—3x improvement in Rubisco's affinity for CO2.
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The library was expressed under varying CO₂ conditions in engineered *E. coli* cells, where bacterial growth directly reflected CO₂ fixation rates, enabling rapid screening through sequencing.
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March 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The library was expressed under varying CO₂ conditions in engineered *E. coli* cells, where bacterial growth directly reflected CO₂ fixation rates, enabling rapid screening through sequencing.
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Prywes et al created a library of almost every possible single amino acid mutants (over 8,700) of a model Rubisco enzyme from the bacterium *Rhodospirillum rubrum*.
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March 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Prywes et al created a library of almost every possible single amino acid mutants (over 8,700) of a model Rubisco enzyme from the bacterium *Rhodospirillum rubrum*.
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Rubisco, the enzyme that fixes CO₂ in photosynthesis, acts as a key bottleneck due to its slow reaction rate and unwanted oxygenase activity.
Prywes et al investigated if specific mutations in rubisco could improve its CO₂ affinity and fixation rate to boost photosynthesis
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Prywes et al investigated if specific mutations in rubisco could improve its CO₂ affinity and fixation rate to boost photosynthesis
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March 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Rubisco, the enzyme that fixes CO₂ in photosynthesis, acts as a key bottleneck due to its slow reaction rate and unwanted oxygenase activity.
Prywes et al investigated if specific mutations in rubisco could improve its CO₂ affinity and fixation rate to boost photosynthesis
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Prywes et al investigated if specific mutations in rubisco could improve its CO₂ affinity and fixation rate to boost photosynthesis
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March 24, 2025 at 11:57 AM
This study shows that despite increased photosynthesis under high light and high CO2, the carbon lost of through light respiration remains constant. However, the source of carbon for light respiration will change.
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March 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This study shows that despite increased photosynthesis under high light and high CO2, the carbon lost of through light respiration remains constant. However, the source of carbon for light respiration will change.
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Under HLHC conditions, plants allocated more carbon towards starch while reducing carbon for amino acids and organic acids. The carbon allocated to sucrose production stayed the same.
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March 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Under HLHC conditions, plants allocated more carbon towards starch while reducing carbon for amino acids and organic acids. The carbon allocated to sucrose production stayed the same.
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However, the source of glucose for the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP), a major contributor to RL, shifted from free glucose to triose phosphate from the Calvin-Benson Cycle.
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March 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
However, the source of glucose for the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP), a major contributor to RL, shifted from free glucose to triose phosphate from the Calvin-Benson Cycle.
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Here’s what they found:
While photosynthesis increased significantly under HLHC, the rate of light respiration remained constant.
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While photosynthesis increased significantly under HLHC, the rate of light respiration remained constant.
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March 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Here’s what they found:
While photosynthesis increased significantly under HLHC, the rate of light respiration remained constant.
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While photosynthesis increased significantly under HLHC, the rate of light respiration remained constant.
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Xu et al, tracked carbon flow in Camelina sativa under high light and high CO2 (HLHC) conditions using isotopic labeling and metabolic flux analysis.
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March 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Xu et al, tracked carbon flow in Camelina sativa under high light and high CO2 (HLHC) conditions using isotopic labeling and metabolic flux analysis.
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The study investigates how future high light and CO2 levels affect plant carbon metabolism and light respiration (RL).
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March 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
The study investigates how future high light and CO2 levels affect plant carbon metabolism and light respiration (RL).
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This finding is from a study published in Scientific Reports.
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March 15, 2025 at 5:48 PM
This finding is from a study published in Scientific Reports.
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This system also has huge potential for vertical farming without light:
www.agritecture.com/blog/electro...
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www.agritecture.com/blog/electro...
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Growing Plants in Darkness: The Promise of Electro-Ag in Vertical Farming
Electro-Ag enables plants to grow in darkness, reducing energy costs & emissions in vertical farming. A breakthrough for food sustainability. Learn more!
www.agritecture.com
March 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
This system also has huge potential for vertical farming without light:
www.agritecture.com/blog/electro...
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www.agritecture.com/blog/electro...
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Paired with solar panels, this system is ~4x more efficient at converting solar energy to food than biological photosynthesis.
- This means more food with less land, less water, and less light.
- Enables food production in controlled environments (space, urban labs).
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- This means more food with less land, less water, and less light.
- Enables food production in controlled environments (space, urban labs).
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March 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Paired with solar panels, this system is ~4x more efficient at converting solar energy to food than biological photosynthesis.
- This means more food with less land, less water, and less light.
- Enables food production in controlled environments (space, urban labs).
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- This means more food with less land, less water, and less light.
- Enables food production in controlled environments (space, urban labs).
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Plants grew well when fed acetate under darkness.
No sunlight. No soil. Just CO₂ and electricity.
However, these tests were only limited to seedling stage.
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No sunlight. No soil. Just CO₂ and electricity.
However, these tests were only limited to seedling stage.
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March 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Plants grew well when fed acetate under darkness.
No sunlight. No soil. Just CO₂ and electricity.
However, these tests were only limited to seedling stage.
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No sunlight. No soil. Just CO₂ and electricity.
However, these tests were only limited to seedling stage.
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Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Electrolyzer 1 converts CO₂ → CO
Step 2: Electrolyzer 2 converts CO → acetate
Acetate is fed to organisms in the dark, which was tested on algae, mushrooms, yeast, and 9 plants (tomatoes, rice, etc.).
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Step 1: Electrolyzer 1 converts CO₂ → CO
Step 2: Electrolyzer 2 converts CO → acetate
Acetate is fed to organisms in the dark, which was tested on algae, mushrooms, yeast, and 9 plants (tomatoes, rice, etc.).
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March 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Here’s how it works:
Step 1: Electrolyzer 1 converts CO₂ → CO
Step 2: Electrolyzer 2 converts CO → acetate
Acetate is fed to organisms in the dark, which was tested on algae, mushrooms, yeast, and 9 plants (tomatoes, rice, etc.).
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Step 1: Electrolyzer 1 converts CO₂ → CO
Step 2: Electrolyzer 2 converts CO → acetate
Acetate is fed to organisms in the dark, which was tested on algae, mushrooms, yeast, and 9 plants (tomatoes, rice, etc.).
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Can we bypass natural photosynthesis entirely?
Researchers developed a two-step electrochemical system that converts CO₂ into acetate (a vinegar-like chemical), which can then be used as a carbon source to grow algae, yeast, fungi, and plants without sunlight!
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Researchers developed a two-step electrochemical system that converts CO₂ into acetate (a vinegar-like chemical), which can then be used as a carbon source to grow algae, yeast, fungi, and plants without sunlight!
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March 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Can we bypass natural photosynthesis entirely?
Researchers developed a two-step electrochemical system that converts CO₂ into acetate (a vinegar-like chemical), which can then be used as a carbon source to grow algae, yeast, fungi, and plants without sunlight!
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Researchers developed a two-step electrochemical system that converts CO₂ into acetate (a vinegar-like chemical), which can then be used as a carbon source to grow algae, yeast, fungi, and plants without sunlight!
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Plant photosynthesis is inefficient, converting only ~1% of sunlight into biomass. This limits food production and demands vast land use. With global food demand rising, we need alternatives more efficient production.
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March 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Plant photosynthesis is inefficient, converting only ~1% of sunlight into biomass. This limits food production and demands vast land use. With global food demand rising, we need alternatives more efficient production.
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These findings are from a 2022 paper published in @naturefood.bsky.social
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March 13, 2025 at 12:35 PM
These findings are from a 2022 paper published in @naturefood.bsky.social
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