Overexpression of the Rieske FeS protein of the Cytochromeb6fcomplex increases C4photosynthesis
AbstractC4plants contribute 20% to the global primary productivity despite representing only 4% of higher plant species. Their CO2concentrating mechanism operating between mesophyll and bundle sheath cells increases CO2partial pressure at the site of Rubisco and hence photosynthetic efficiency. Electron transport chains in both cell types supply ATP and NADPH for C4photosynthesis. Since Cytochromeb6fis a key point of control of electron transport in C3plants, we constitutively overexpressed the Rieske FeS subunit inSetaria viridisto study the effects on C4photosynthesis. Rieske FeS overexpression resulted in a higher content of Cytochromeb6fin both mesophyll and bundle sheath cells without marked changes in abundances of other photosynthetic complexes and Rubisco. Plants with higher Cytochromeb6fabundance showed better light conversion efficiency in both Photosystems and could generate higher proton-motive force across the thylakoid membrane. Rieske FeS abundance correlated with CO2assimilation rate and plants with a 10% increase in Rieske FeS content showed a 10% increase in CO2assimilation rate at ambient and saturating CO2and high light. Our results demonstrate that Cytochromeb6fcontrols the rate of electron transport in C4plants and that removing electron transport limitations can increase the rate of C4photosynthesis.