Research Advances in Photorespiration

Abstract:

Photorespiration is a process, in which plant green tissue absorbs O₂ and releases CO₂ depending on light energy, which is considered to be a waste of energy. Photorespiration of normally growing C₃ plants can lose 25%- 30% of photosynthate, and the loss can be as high as 50% under stresses, such as drought, high temperature and high light. Therefore, significantly improving the productivity of C₃ plants can be achieved by reducing photorespiration flux. Although photorespiration has obvious negative effects on plant productivity, it may play an important role in some essential physiological activities of plants, including participating in photoprotection, H₂O₂ signaling, nitrogen metabolism, photooxidation and stress response. Thus, the transformation and optimization of photorespiration need to grasp the balance point and adaptation. The photorespiration modification based on Rubisco modification, CO₂ concentration mechanism (CCM) and photorespiration branch creation was reviewed. By understanding the latest progress in the regulation of photorespiration to improve the efficiency of plant light conversion, it is expected to provide guidance for the studies on molecular regulation and improvement of photorespiration metabolism.