Researchers Discover Protein Key to Improving Photosynthetic Efficiency (IMAGE)

Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Researchers Discover Protein Key to Improving Photosynthetic Efficiency

Caption

During photosynthesis in C3 crops, such as wheat and rice, the enzyme Rubisco will react with oxygen (instead of carbon dioxide) creating a plant-toxic compound that must be recycled, wasting energy. University of Illinois researchers -- including USDA/ARS scientist Paul South (center), USDA/ARS scientist Don Ort (right), and Amanda Cavanagh (left) -- report in Plant Cell the discovery of a key protein in this process, which they hope to manipulate to increase plant productivity.

Credit

Claire Benjamin/University of Illinois

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