Altering Tetrapyrrole Biosynthesis by Overexpressing Ferrochelatases (Fc1 and Fc2) Improves Photosynthetic Efficiency in Transgenic Barley

Dilrukshi S. K. Nagahatenna; Jingwen Tiong; Everard J. Edwards; Peter Langridge; Ryan Whitford

doi:10.3390/agronomy10091370

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Altering Tetrapyrrole Biosynthesis by Overexpressing Ferrochelatases (Fc1 and Fc2) Improves Photosynthetic Efficiency in Transgenic Barley

Journal article

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Altering Tetrapyrrole Biosynthesis by Overexpressing Ferrochelatases (Fc1 and Fc2) Improves Photosynthetic Efficiency in Transgenic Barley

Dilrukshi S. K. Nagahatenna, Jingwen Tiong, Everard J. Edwards, Peter Langridge and Ryan Whitford

Agronomy (Basel), Vol.10(9), 1370

2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy10091370

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Abstract

Agriculture

Agronomy

Life Sciences & Biomedicine

Plant Sciences

Science & Technology

Ferrochelatase (FC) is the terminal enzyme of heme biosynthesis. In photosynthetic organisms studied so far, there is evidence for two FC isoforms, which are encoded by two genes (FC1 and FC2). Previous studies suggest that these two genes are required for the production of two physiologically distinct heme pools with only FC2-derived heme involved in photosynthesis. We characterised two FCs in barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The two HvFC isoforms share a common catalytic domain, but HvFC2 additionally contains a C-terminal chlorophyll a/b binding (CAB) domain. Both HvFCs are highly expressed in photosynthetic tissues, with HvFC1 transcripts also being abundant in non-photosynthetic tissues. To determine whether these isoforms differentially affect photosynthesis, transgenic barley ectopically overexpressing HvFC1 and HvFC2 were generated and evaluated for photosynthetic performance. In each case, transgenics exhibited improved photosynthetic rate (Asat), stomatal conductance (gs) and carboxylation efficiency (CE), showing that both FC1 and FC2 play important roles in photosynthesis. Our finding that modified FC expression can improve photosynthesis up to similar to 13% under controlled growth conditions now requires further research to determine if this can be translated to improved yield performance under field conditions.

Details

Title: Altering Tetrapyrrole Biosynthesis by Overexpressing Ferrochelatases (Fc1 and Fc2) Improves Photosynthetic Efficiency in Transgenic Barley
Authors/Creators: Dilrukshi S. K. Nagahatenna - The University of Adelaide
Jingwen Tiong - The University of Adelaide
Everard J. Edwards - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Peter Langridge - The University of Adelaide
Ryan Whitford - The University of Adelaide
Publication Details: Agronomy (Basel), Vol.10(9), 1370
Publisher: MDPI
Number of pages: 15
Identifiers: 991005779529807891
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Crop and Food Innovation
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.171 Photoproductivity; 3.171.129 Photosynthesis Mechanisms
Web Of Science research areas: Agronomy; Plant Sciences
ESI research areas: Agricultural Sciences