Boosting C4 photosynthesis to climate proof crop yields

培育下一代C4作物，如玉米、甘蔗和高粱，以应对干旱和高温胁迫，对于确保粮食和饲料的供应是必要的。在这里，我们将增加C4光合作用初级羧基酶(PEPC)的含量和/或催化效率，该酶为碳浓缩机制提供二氧化碳，并确保高光合作用速率。我们将开发新的SynBio工具来创建和测试具有理想特性的新型PEPC亚型。最终，该项目的目标是确定在胁迫条件下改善植物适应性的亚型。优化PEPC活动将提供下一代解决方案，以改善水平衡和碳同化，以保持C4作物在未来气候下的产量。

Building next generation C4 crops, such as maize, sugarcane and sorghum, to cope with drought and heat stress is requisite to ensure the supply of food and fodder. Here we will increase the content and / or catalytic efficiency of the primary carboxylase of C4 photosynthesis (PEPC) that supplies CO2 to the carbon concentrating mechanism and ensures high photosynthetic rates. We will develop new SynBio tools to create and test novel PEPC isoforms with desirable properties. Ultimately, the project aims to identify isoforms that improve plant fitness under stress conditions. Optimising PEPC activity will provide next generation solutions to improve water balance and carbon assimilation to keep C4 crops productive under future climates.