Plastid transport and metabolism of C3 and C4 plants — comparative analysis and possible biotechnological exploitation

Recent progress in genomics has provided complete or near complete genome sequences of several C3 (e.g. Arabidopsis, rice, and poplar) and C4 (e.g. sorghum and maize) plant species. These genome sequences enabled comparative quantitative proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of C3 and C4 plants, in particular of their chloroplasts. Such analyses have revealed a comprehensive picture of the distribution of C4 pathway components between bundle sheath and mesophyll cell chloroplasts and they permitted the prediction of novel pathway components. A comprehensive understanding of the C4 photosynthetic mechanism is required for the transfer of C4-like photosynthesis into C3 crop plants, such as rice.