1. Algal evolution in relation to atmospheric CO2: Carboxylases, carbon-concentrating mechanisms and carbon oxidation cycles
- Author
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Raven, JA, Giordano, M, Beardall, J, and Maberly, SC
- Subjects
Evolutionary Biology ,Autotrophic Processes ,Nitrogen ,Atmosphere ,Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase ,Carbon Dioxide ,Cyanobacteria ,Biological Evolution ,Carbon ,Glycolates ,Carbon Cycle ,Diffusion ,Enzyme Activation ,Oxygenases ,Photosynthesis ,Oxidation-Reduction - Abstract
Oxygenic photosynthesis evolved at least 2.4 Ga; all oxygenic organisms use the ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase (Rubisco)-photosynthetic carbon reduction cycle (PCRC) rather than one of the five other known pathways of autotrophic CO2 assimilation. The high CO2 and (initially) O2-free conditions permitted the use of a Rubisco with a high maximum specific reaction rate. As CO2 decreased and O2 increased, Rubisco oxygenase activity increased and 2-phosphoglycolate was produced, with the evolution of pathways recycling this inhibitory product to sugar phosphates. Changed atmospheric composition also selected for Rubiscos with higher CO2 affinity and CO2/O2 selectivity correlated with decreased CO2-saturated catalytic capacity and/or for CO2-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs). These changes increase the energy, nitrogen, phosphorus, iron, zinc and manganese cost of producing and operating Rubisco-PCRC, while biosphere oxygenation decreased the availability of nitrogen, phosphorus and iron. The majority of algae today have CCMs; the timing of their origins is unclear. If CCMs evolved in a low-CO2 episode followed by one or more lengthy high-CO2 episodes, CCM retention could involve a combination of environmental factors known to favour CCM retention in extant organisms that also occur in a warmer high-CO2 ocean. More investigations, including studies of genetic adaptation, are needed. © 2012 The Royal Society.
- Published
- 2012