Articles tagged with Photosynthesis
A team of scientists from Arizona State University has re-thought the evolutionary history of photochemical reaction centers (RCs). They propose a new pathway that ancient organisms may have taken to evolve the great variety of photosynthetic RCs seen today.
Researchers have developed a hybrid system combining inorganic semiconductor nanocrystals with a molecular catalyst, achieving efficient hydrogen production. The system shows remarkable catalytic activity in water without the use of toxic metals like cadmium.
Researchers have determined the structure of a photosynthetic LH1-RC complex from the bacterium Blastochloris viridis, which can harness and use light at wavelengths over 1,000 nm. This breakthrough reveals how the protein converts near-infrared light into an electrical charge to power cell metabolism.
A University of Michigan biophysicist and her team have imaged the moment a photon sparks the first energy conversion steps of photosynthesis. The findings provide crucial insights into the initial charge separation during photosynthesis, an essential step in the process.
A new study suggests that photosynthesis may have evolved as long as 3.6 billion years ago, contradicting previous estimates. This finding implies that oxygenic photosynthesis, which produces all the oxygen on Earth, started earlier than thought, potentially allowing early life to diversify and dominate the world.
Researchers deployed 12-foot metal poles with sensors to capture sun-induced fluorescence, allowing them to rapidly monitor crop photosynthetic performance. This technology has the potential to transform phenotyping into an efficient, automated process.
A team from TUM developed a methodology to observe ultrafast chemical processes with quintillionths of a second resolution. This allows for the control and influence of ionization dynamics, shedding light on photosynthesis and silicon ionization in computer chips.
A new species of orchid has been found to be a different identity from previously thought Lecanorchis nigricans var. patipetala. The closed-flower variety has smaller flowers and distinct petal features that set it apart from the open-flower variety.
Scientists have discovered that the basis for photosynthesis in today's plants was set in place 1.25 billion years ago, according to a new study published in Geology. The research pinpoints the age of ancient algae fossils, which had previously been estimated between 720 million and 1.2 billion years.
New research by Prof. Andrew Kowalski of the University of Granada calls into question current methods of studying photosynthesis, highlighting the importance of non-diffusive gas transport in the process. This discovery has significant implications for fields such as biology and micrometeorology.
Researchers have identified a set of genes in drought-resistant plants that enable them to survive in dry conditions. By studying these genes, scientists hope to bioengineer water-efficient crops that can thrive in water-limited environments. This could reduce agricultural water use and boost crop resilience.
A team of NUS scientists has developed a prototype device that mimics natural photosynthesis to produce ethylene gas. The device uses only sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide, reducing the carbon footprint of ethylene production.
Researchers proposed a model explaining how plants regulate photosynthesis in response to varying light intensities through redox systems like thioredoxins and NTRC. The chloroplasts have protective antioxidant enzymes, such as 2-cys peroxiredoxin, which play a crucial role in maintaining the balance of these redox systems.
Researchers found that reducing chlorophyll content in plant leaves can save significant amounts of nitrogen, which can be reinvested to improve light use efficiency and increase yield. This strategy has the potential to enhance photosynthetic efficiency without sacrificing carbon gain.
Scientists at the University of Liverpool have discovered the molecular processes behind crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) photosynthesis in succulents. They found that the PPCK enzyme is essential for optimizing CO2 capture and storage, and that alterations in the circadian clock can affect CAM function.
Three non-photosynthetic plant species use camel crickets as their main seed disperser. The seeds are preserved unharmed in the excrement, allowing the plants to occupy a unique biological niche. This discovery highlights the dramatic changes that occur when photosynthesis is lost.
Researchers have identified key genes that regulate water-efficient photosynthesis in pineapple and other CAM plants. This breakthrough could lead to improved water use efficiency in C3 crops, allowing them to thrive in environments previously inhospitable to them.
A $400,000 grant from the US Department of Energy's Office of Basic Energy Sciences will support Dr. Gary Hastings' research on efficient solar energy conversion in photosynthesis. The goal is to design more efficient artificial solar cells by understanding how plants capture solar energy.
Scientists have made a major step forward in quantifying photosynthesis by mapping solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence with high spatial resolution from the NASA satellite OCO-2. This enables them to scale SIF to gross primary production across different vegetation types.
A new technique uses satellite-based remote-sensing to quantify plant metabolism by measuring solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. This correlation opens up applications for climate change and ecosystem monitoring, biodiversity conservation, and land management.
Researchers studied northern hemisphere boreal forests from 1979-2014 and found that spring recovery after snowmelt advanced by an average of 8.1 days, corresponding to a 3.7% increase in gross primary production per decade.
The Realizing Increased Photosynthetic Efficiency (RIPE) project aims to develop sustainable yield increases through engineered photosynthesis. With a five-year, $45 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and others, RIPE seeks to provide new means to eradicate world hunger and malnutrition by 2030.
Researchers found that plants have adapted to rising CO2 levels by becoming more efficient at using water, which could help offset human-induced climate change. The study provides new insights into the impact of CO2 on plant behavior and photosynthesis.
A team of scientists from ASU and Penn State University has discovered the structure of a reaction center that preserves the characteristics of the ancestral one, providing new insight into the evolution of photosynthesis. This breakthrough sheds light on the process by which organisms harness light energy to drive their metabolism.
Researchers at Georgia State University discovered that a process called inverted-region electron transfer contributes to the high efficiency of solar energy conversion in photosynthesis. This mechanism can be used to design new and better types of artificial solar cells.
Researchers have provided high-resolution insights into the light harvesting process of plants under low light conditions. The study reveals the structural features and energy transfer pathways within the C2S2M2-type PSII-LHCII supercomplex, shedding light on its functional regulation and oxygen-evolving activity.
Researchers developed a titanium dioxide interlayer to boost the performance of photoanodes, increasing photocurrent by more than four times. The design combines nanostructure with chemical doping, promising improvements for green photocatalytic systems.
Scientists have created cyborg bacteria that can produce acetic acid from carbon dioxide using sunlight as energy, outperforming natural photosynthesis with an efficiency of over 80%. This technology has the potential to replace traditional petrochemical industries and provide a zero-waste solution.
Researchers at Lancaster University discovered that wheat crops experience a delay in photosynthesis when transitioning from shade to sunlight, resulting in a loss of up to 21% productivity. The study suggests that breeding varieties with faster adjustment times could lead to increased yields without requiring more water or nutrients.
A new study reveals that the chloroplast lineage split from its closest cyanobacterial ancestor over 2.1 billion years ago in low salinity environments, marking a crucial step in photosynthesis evolution. The association of the chloroplast with its eukaryotic host took place around 800-750 million years ago in marine environments.
Researchers from Arizona State University have gained a fundamental understanding of the early evolution of photosynthesis by resolving the core membrane protein structure in the simplest known photosynthetic bacterium. This discovery provides a new template for organic-based solar panel design and possible renewable biofuel applications.
A team from MIT and University of Verona has discovered the key protein in a defense mechanism called photoprotection, which allows plants to dissipate excess energy from sunlight. This process is crucial for plant survival but limits biomass production.
Scientists have identified a phylogenetically old alga's hydrogen-producing enzyme, which shares characteristics with its bacterial counterpart. The study reveals that these enzymes are used for light-driven generation of hydrogen in green algae.
Researchers discovered that CP12 regulates enzymes GAPDH and PRK, allowing plants to respond to changing light levels. Removing all three forms of the protein results in reduced photosynthetic efficiency and smaller plant yield.
Researchers have designed a molecular system that incorporates individual components specialized for light absorption, charge separation, and catalysis into a single supramolecule. The seven-metal system with six Ru centers produces more hydrogen and remains stable for longer periods than the four-metal system with three Ru centers.
Kirk Schanze is developing artificial light conversion systems inspired by natural photosynthesis, aiming to optimize the process and create efficient solar fuels. His goal is to contribute to a carbon-neutral energy future for the US and world.
A recent study by Waseda University researchers found that the glaucophyte Cyanophora paradoxa has metabolic interactions with respiration similar to those in cyanobacteria. This suggests that cyanelles retain many characteristics of their ancestral cyanobacteria, challenging current understanding of algae evolution.
A gene atlas for the ice plant will aid in finding ways to make bioenergy feedstocks more resilient to salinity and drought. The project aims to understand how environmental stress controls the expression of CAM photosynthesis, a water-conserving pathway that helps plants survive in arid climates.
Researchers at Kobe University have clarified part of the photosynthetic reaction center mechanism, unlocking a crucial step towards artificial photosynthesis. The findings reveal the initial electric charge separation structure and its stabilization through electrostatic interaction between charges.
A new study analyzed 41 genomes to determine how Cyanobacteria evolved oxygenic photosynthesis, finding that it likely occurred through lateral gene transfer in Oxyphotobacteria after divergence from the Melainabacteria group around 2.5-2.6 billion years ago
Researchers have discovered the evolutionary history of cyanobacteria, the microorganisms responsible for 'inventing' oxygen-producing photosynthesis. The study found that Oxyphobacteria were the only group to evolve this process, with oxygenic photosynthesis arising around 2.3 billion years ago.
Washington State University researchers discovered a unique structure in plants that offloads nutrients from leaves to fruits, seeds, and branches. By targeting this structure, scientists can increase sink strength, drawing more nutrients to desired parts of the plant.
A recent study published in PNAS has shed light on the long-standing problem of photosynthetic process in plants. Researchers identified the specific regions of Photosystem II protein complex where reactive oxygen species damage occurs, revealing a new paradigm for understanding this vital chemical process.
Researchers found that chlorophyll demetallation reacts a thousand times faster in microdroplets without enzymes, suggesting a new mechanism for photosynthesis control. This discovery could lead to better understanding of photosynthesis and contribute to more efficient photosynthesis research.
Researchers at Washington State University are utilizing a fully automated 'plant hotel' to analyze the effects of global warming on plant growth. The machine can mimic various climate conditions, allowing scientists to study the genetic underpinnings of stress tolerance in plants and how they respond to environmental changes.
Researchers at Kobe University have found a primitive pathway that resembles photosynthesis in Methanospirillum hungatei, a non-photosynthesizing microbe. The team used metabolome analysis to locate trapped CO2 and proved the microbe uses this pathway to synthesize glucose.
Scientifics found that lower leaves of corn and Miscanthus are less efficient in low light, leading to a 10% loss in potential yield. This 'Achilles' heel' likely applies to other C4 crops, such as sugarcane and sorghum.
The Venus flytrap captures insects to extract nutrients and energy. Researchers found that the plant produces additional energy by oxidizing amino acids from its prey.
Researchers from Imperial College London and Johannes Kepler University have determined the speed of crucial processes in photosynthesis for the first time using ultrafast imaging. The study reveals that the slowest step is not the water-splitting reaction, but rather the light harvesting and transfer process.
A new study led by Berkeley Lab researcher Trevor F. Keenan highlights a common practice in plant science that may have underestimated plants' growth and photosynthesis rates. The study suggests updating global plant databases and models to better account for plant responses to full-sun conditions.
Scientists have developed a biomimetic photosynthesis approach using graphitic carbon nitride material to store and release light-generated electrons for catalytic hydrogen production. This technology enables the production of storable solar fuels independent of solar irradiation intermittency.
A-LEAF project, led by ICIQ, aims to build a photovoltaic device mimicking photosynthesis to produce clean fuels and raw materials using sunlight, water, and CO2. The project seeks to develop sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels.
Researchers use a femtosecond X-ray laser to observe the water-splitting reaction in detail, shedding light on how oxygen is formed. The study provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis.
Researchers developed a method to increase plant productivity by boosting levels of three proteins involved in photosynthesis. In field trials, modified tobacco plants showed increases of 14-20% in productivity. The study confirms that improving photosynthesis can lead to higher crop yields.
Plant biologists have increased crop productivity by modifying genes involved in photoprotection, allowing for more efficient use of sunlight. The study shows a 14-20% increase in modified tobacco plants, which could be applied to other crops like rice.
Researchers have identified a way to manipulate photosynthesis in plants to increase light-harvesting ability and biomass production. The modified plants outperformed controls by 11-14% under fluctuating light conditions, with greater leaf area and plant height.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab integrated a water-splitting catalyst onto semiconductor to create more stable and efficient artificial photosystems. The composite film successfully supported chemical reactions without damaging sensitive semiconductors, achieving a three-day run time.
Scientists use satellites to monitor seasonal changes in evergreen trees, providing a new tool to track the impact of climate change on northern forests. The research reveals subtle colour shifts that indicate changes in photosynthetic activity, which could accelerate or slow down global warming.
A recent Tansley Review found that cassava yields have stagnated since 1961, with potential for 25-100% improvements in yield, water, and fertilizer use efficiency. Researchers highlight the importance of improving photosynthesis to increase sustainable food productivity.
Researchers at Australian National University are developing next-generation food crops that can produce bigger yields and resist drought better than current crops. Crops like sorghum and millet use a more efficient form of photosynthesis, allowing them to thrive in extreme conditions.