KTH researchers study Rubisco enzyme to improve photosynthesis

Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have conducted a study to address inefficiencies in photosynthesis, aiming to develop crops better suited for a changing climate. The team created and tested approximately 15,000 genetically modified variants of bacterial Rubisco, an enzyme essential for converting carbon dioxide into organic matter for growth.

While Rubisco is critical for life on Earth, it is often inefficient, working slowly and occasionally binding with oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, which forces organisms to expend energy to recycle byproducts. By focusing on bacterial rather than plant-based Rubisco, the researchers identified several promising variants and mapped numerous unsuccessful mutations.

The findings, published in Science Advances, provide a comprehensive database that can guide the development of more efficient enzymes and improve computer models of genetic changes. Although the study utilized bacterial versions, the data may eventually assist in research to create faster-growing and more climate-resilient crops through further testing in plant cells.