ENGINEERING CRASSULACEAN ACID METABOLISM (CAM) PATHWAYS IN PLANTS

摘要

Disclosed herein are methods of altering CAM pathways in plants. In some examples, a disclosed method includes overexpressing one or more genes encoding one or more enzymes that carry out the basic biochemical sequence of nocturnal CO₂ fixation (carboxylation) into C₄ acids (malate), store C₄ acids in the vacuole of the plant, and/or then decarboxylate and refix the released CO₂ by C₃ photosynthesis during the subsequent day in a plant cell, thereby altering CAM in the plant cell. Also disclosed herein are isolated polynucleotide sequences, transformation vectors, transgenic plant cells, plant part, and plants. The disclosed methods and compositions can be used to improve the water-use efficiency and drought tolerance and durability of plants, such as in plants in arid environments, and also enhance the ability of plants to perform net CO₂ fixation resulting in increased biomass production and accumulation.