Remodelling encapsulin nanocages to help enhance plant carbon fixation

大自然在微生物系统中进化出了通过二氧化碳使Rubisco酶饱和来提高光合效率的机制。这些碳浓缩机制在遗传上是复杂的，阻碍了成功地引入作物。我们更简单的方法是使用胶囊，这是一种由单一基因制成的坚固的细菌含孔纳米笼的新来源。该项目将优化合成包封- rubisco碳固定纳米反应器的开发，并将其转化为叶片叶绿体，以测试它们对植物光合作用和生长的影响。我们的基因更简单的解决方案将有助于全球正在进行的努力，以实现迟来的农业生产力的阶段性改进。

Nature has evolved mechanisms in microbial systems to improve photosynthetic efficiency by saturating the enzyme Rubisco with carbon dioxide. These carbon concentrating mechanisms are genetically complex, precluding successful introduction into crops. Our simpler approach is to use encapsulins, a new source of robust bacterial pore-containing nanocages made from a single gene. This project will optimise the development of synthetic encapsulin-Rubisco carbon-fixing nanoreactors and transform them into leaf chloroplasts to test their impact on plant photosynthesis and growth. Our genetically simpler solution will aid ongoing global efforts to deliver overdue step change improvements in agricultural productivity.