Plastid transport and metabolism of C-3 and C-4 plants - comparative analysis and possible biotechnological exploitation

Recent progress in genomics has provided complete or near complete genome sequences of several C-3 (e.g. Arabidopsis, rice, and poplar) and C-4 (e.g. sorghum and maize) plant species. These genome sequences enabled comparative quantitative proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of C-3 and C-4 plants, in particular of their chloroplasts. Such analyses have revealed a comprehensive picture of the distribution of C-4 pathway components between bundle sheath and mesophyll cell chloroplasts and they permitted the prediction of novel pathway components. A comprehensive understanding of the C-4 photosynthetic mechanism is required for the transfer of C-4-like photosynthesis into C-3 crop plants, such as rice.