Dr Joana Amaral
I am a postdoc researcher in Professor Elizabete Carmo-Silva’s lab at Lancaster Environment Centre (Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK), which focuses on photosynthesis research. My research interests include understanding plant responses to their surrounding environment and enhancing plant performance under different scenarios. I have worked in several projects focused on understanding forest trees/woody species response to biotic and abiotic stresses using an integrated approach – from physiology to Omics. As part of the CAPITALISE project, I am currently studying strategies to improve photosynthesis for higher yielding crops based on Rubisco regulation by Rubisco activase.
Title: Regulation of Rubisco activase activity in shade-sun transitions
Webinar date: Tuesday 7th November 14.00 CET
Abstract:
The current demand to feed a growing population under a climate change scenario has led scientists worldwide to focus on developing strategies to improve photosynthesis for higher yielding crops. Rubisco, the most abundant protein on Earth, has been extensively studied for that purpose. In particular, its regulation by Rubisco activase (Rca) in shade-sun transitions could be more efficient and improve photosynthetic productivity in crop plants. In the light, this chaperone promotes the release of Rubisco inhibitors in an ATP-dependent manner, being regulated by the chloroplast redox status, ADP:ATP ratio, and temperature. Most plants, including the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, have longer redox-sensitive α Rca isoforms and shorter redox-insensitive β isoforms, with Rca α showing higher sensitivity to ADP inhibition. Arabidopsis mutants expressing only the β Rca isoform showed faster induction of CO2 assimilation after transition from low to high irradiance and enhanced growth under fluctuating light. However, these advances have still not been successfully translated into crops and the regulation of Rca by light in crops such as tomato that naturally express only β isoforms is unclear. In the framework of CAPTALISE, we are studying how Rca regulates Rubisco under changing chloroplast conditions in response to light in tomato. These studies advance our understanding of Rubisco regulation and support the development of innovative strategies to improve crop yield through photosynthesis.