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Photosynthetic Reactions: From Molecules to Function and Simple Models to Complex Systems—2nd Edition

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Plant Sciences".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2024) | Viewed by 7143

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Guest Editor
Departament of Biophysics, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, ul. F. Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-353 Wroclaw, Poland
Interests: photosynthesis; electron transfer; photoinduced electron transfer; iron-sulfur proteins; fluorescence; nanobiohybrids; nanoparticles; quantum dots
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Photosynthesis is a key process for life on Earth. It comprises a very complex set of reactions, starting with the primary act of light absorption by photosynthetic pigments in antennae followed by electron transfer via protein complexes in photosynthetic membranes and several enzymatic reactions out of the membrane, finally leading to the synthesis of carbohydrates. Photosynthesis is also regulated in the response to environmental factors; this regulation involves several mechanisms at different levels of organization.

We study photosynthesis to understand this phenomenon and to be able to influence its efficiency. Additionally, there is a strong scientific desire to imitate photosynthetic processes in so-called artificial photosynthesis and to use photosynthetic elements to obtain higher-quality biotechnological products. For this reason, it is necessary that we understand the structure and function of individual molecules, proteins and pigment–protein complexes, as well as larger networks, entire organelles and organisms. Due to the high complexity of the photosynthetic phenomenon, it is often necessary to create model systems containing isolated elements. On the other hand, the various levels of organization in organisms provide a holistic perspective for the understanding of connections between distant reactions.

We invite authors to submit both original articles and reviews on photosynthetic molecules and reactions, in simple model systems especially but also at the level of organelles and whole organisms. We believe that only by looking at the matter from different perspectives can we fully understand the process of photosynthesis.

Dr. Joanna Grzyb
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • photosynthesis
  • model systems
  • pigment–protein complexes
  • photosynthetic antennae
  • energy transfer
  • electron transfer
  • plants
  • chloroplasts

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 6708 KiB  
Article
Pea Seed Priming with Pluronic P85-Grafted Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Affects Photosynthetic Gas Exchange but Not Photosynthetic Light Reactions
by Sashka Krumova, Svetozar Stoichev, Daniel Ilkov, Velichka Strijkova, Vesela Katrova, Ana Crespo, José Álvarez, Elvira Martínez, Sagrario Martínez-Ramírez, Tsonko Tsonev, Petar Petrov and Violeta Velikova
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(14), 7901; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25147901 - 19 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1216
Abstract
Nanotechnology is rapidly advancing towards the development of applications for sustainable plant growth and photosynthesis optimization. The nanomaterial/plant interaction has been intensively investigated; however, there is still a gap in knowledge regarding their effect on crop seed development and photosynthetic performance. In the [...] Read more.
Nanotechnology is rapidly advancing towards the development of applications for sustainable plant growth and photosynthesis optimization. The nanomaterial/plant interaction has been intensively investigated; however, there is still a gap in knowledge regarding their effect on crop seed development and photosynthetic performance. In the present work, we apply a priming procedure with 10 and 50 mg/L Pluronic-P85-grafted single-walled carbon nanotubes (P85-SWCNT) on garden pea seeds and examine the germination, development, and photosynthetic activity of young seedlings grown on soil substrate. The applied treatments result in a distorted topology of the seed surface and suppressed (by 10–19%) shoot emergence. No priming-induced alterations in the structural and functional features of the photosynthetic apparatus in 14-day-old plants are found. However, photosynthetic gas exchange measurements reveal reduced stomatal conductance (by up to 15%) and increased intrinsic water use efficiency (by 12–15%), as compared to hydro-primed variants, suggesting the better ability of plants to cope with drought stress—an assumption that needs further verification. Our study prompts further research on the stomatal behavior and dark reactions of photosynthesis in order to gain new insights into the effect of carbon nanotubes on plant performance. Full article
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Review

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40 pages, 2188 KiB  
Review
Photosynthesis: Genetic Strategies Adopted to Gain Higher Efficiency
by Naveed Khan, Seok-Hyun Choi, Choon-Hwan Lee, Mingnan Qu and Jong-Seong Jeon
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(16), 8933; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25168933 - 16 Aug 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 5364
Abstract
The global challenge of feeding an ever-increasing population to maintain food security requires novel approaches to increase crop yields. Photosynthesis, the fundamental energy and material basis for plant life on Earth, is highly responsive to environmental conditions. Evaluating the operational status of the [...] Read more.
The global challenge of feeding an ever-increasing population to maintain food security requires novel approaches to increase crop yields. Photosynthesis, the fundamental energy and material basis for plant life on Earth, is highly responsive to environmental conditions. Evaluating the operational status of the photosynthetic mechanism provides insights into plants’ capacity to adapt to their surroundings. Despite immense effort, photosynthesis still falls short of its theoretical maximum efficiency, indicating significant potential for improvement. In this review, we provide background information on the various genetic aspects of photosynthesis, explain its complexity, and survey relevant genetic engineering approaches employed to improve the efficiency of photosynthesis. We discuss the latest success stories of gene-editing tools like CRISPR-Cas9 and synthetic biology in achieving precise refinements in targeted photosynthesis pathways, such as the Calvin-Benson cycle, electron transport chain, and photorespiration. We also discuss the genetic markers crucial for mitigating the impact of rapidly changing environmental conditions, such as extreme temperatures or drought, on photosynthesis and growth. This review aims to pinpoint optimization opportunities for photosynthesis, discuss recent advancements, and address the challenges in improving this critical process, fostering a globally food-secure future through sustainable food crop production. Full article
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