Acclimation of photosynthesis to elevated CO2 through feedback regulation of gene expression: Climate of opinion

Abstract

Although down-regulation of photosynthesis in higher C3 plants exposed to long-term elevated CO2 has been recognized in plants with low sink activity or poor nutrient status, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This review covers aspects of rising CO2 on plant productivity in general, and then focuses on photosynthesis, biochemistry (stroma and thylakoid proteins, Rubisco activities and metabolites), and gene expression in tomato plants grown under ambient or elevated CO2. Taking into account these data and the recent discovery that glucose triggers repression of photosynthetic gene transcription, a molecular mechanism is proposed for feedback regulation of photosynthesis under high CO2. Different living organisms such as bacteria, yeast, and mammals have been investigated for the sensing mechanisms of the carbohydrate status of their cells, and this information is used together with some recent data obtained for plants to propose how hexose levels might be sensed in higher plant cells.