From algae to plants: understanding pyrenoid-based CO2 concentrating mechanisms

Ella Catherall, Sabina Musiał, Nicky Atkinson, Charlotte E. Walker, Luke C. M. Mackinder*, Alistair J McCormick*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

Pyrenoids are the key component of one of the most abundant biological CO 2 concentration mechanisms found in nature. Pyrenoid-based CO 2-concentrating mechanisms (pCCMs) are estimated to account for one third of global photosynthetic CO 2 capture. Our molecular understanding of how pyrenoids work is based largely on work in the green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Here, we review recent advances in our fundamental knowledge of the biogenesis, architecture, and function of pyrenoids in Chlamydomonas and ongoing engineering biology efforts to introduce a functional pCCM into chloroplasts of vascular plants, which, if successful, has the potential to enhance crop productivity and resilience to climate change.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)33-45
Number of pages25
JournalTrends in biochemical sciences
Volume50
Issue number1
Early online date25 Nov 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2025

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Algae
  • Arabidopsis
  • CO2-concentrating mechanisms
  • liquid-liquid phase separation
  • pyrenoid Rubisco

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