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SUMMARY:Turbocharging Photosynthesis: Carbon Concentrating Mechanisms in A
 lgae and Higher Plants - Maddie Mitchell
DTSTART:20121120T203000Z
DTEND:20121120T210000Z
UID:TALK40938@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Roeland Verhallen
DESCRIPTION:Photosynthesis is arguably the most important process on the p
 lanet. Through photosynthesis\, plants are able to convert sunlight to sug
 ars\, which ultimately fuel not only plant growth\, but also our own. Howe
 ver\, the carbon reduction reactions are relatively slow and rely on a not
 oriously 'inefficient' enzyme called Rubisco. I will briefly discuss the e
 volution of Rubisco and the various mechanisms that photosynthetic organis
 ms have evolved to overcome Rubisco's kinetic constraints. These include C
 4 and CAM photosynthesis in higher plants as well as the biophysical carbo
 n concentrating mechanisms of cyanobacteria and algae. Understanding these
  mechanisms is becoming increasingly important both for improving crop pro
 ductivity and carbon sequestration in order to feed a growing population a
 nd combat climate change. Finally\, I will present some of my research int
 o the regulation of the carbon concentrating mechanism in the model alga C
 hlamydomonas reinhardtii. This work is part of a collaboration to introduc
 e elements of the algal system into higher plants with the aim of improvin
 g photosynthetic efficiency.
LOCATION:Senior Parlour\, Gonville &amp\; Caius College
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