An Orphan-Moonlighting Gene PRL-1 Enhances Photosynthetic Efficiency and Productivity in Plants
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ABSTRACT: Increasing photosynthetic efficiency remains a major goal across the globe given its central role in CO2 assimilation. Here, we identified a nuclear genome-residing orphan gene, comprised of 3 exons, two with apparent endophytic origins and the third being a highly conserved fragment of the RIBULOSE BISPHOSPHATE CARBOXYLASE/ OXYGENASE LARGE SUBUNIT (RuBisCo). This novel gene, here-on referred to as Populus RuBisCo-like (PRL-1) gene localizes in chloroplast, endoplasmic reticulum and nuclear compartments of plant cells, acts as a transcriptional repressor and modulates adaptation to fluctuating light. P. trichocarpa genotypes with high PRL-1 expression levels quickly dissipated non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) upon transitioning from high to low light and rapidly induced NPQ upon returning to high light. The dynamic modulation of NPQ yields high quantum efficiency of linear electron transport (PSII) and 10-20% increased quantum efficiency of CO2 assimilation (CO2). The enhanced photosynthesis efficiency corresponded with increased plant height and biomass in P. trichocarpa with up to 35 % and 100% increases under field and greenhouse conditions. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants heterologously expressing the PRL-1 gene gained up to 200% in biomass and 97% in seed yield under greenhouse conditions. Taken together, PRL-1 presents a novel and trackable target for increasing photosynthetic efficiency in plants.
INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive Plus
ORGANISM(S): Populus Trichocarpa (ncbitaxon:3694)
SUBMITTER: Paul Abraham
PROVIDER: MSV000091785 | MassIVE | Mon Apr 24 05:32:00 BST 2023
SECONDARY ACCESSION(S): PXD041771
REPOSITORIES: MassIVE
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