Evolution of C4 photosynthesis in the genus flaveria: How many and which genes does it take to make C4?

Abstract

Selective pressure exerted by a massive decline in atmospheric CO2 levels 55 to 40 million years ago promoted the evolution of a novel, highly efficient mode of photosynthetic carbon assimilation known as C4 photosynthesis. C4 species have concurrently evolved multiple times in a broad range of plant families, and this multiple and parallel evolution of the complex C4 trait indicates a common underlying evolutionary mechanism that might be elucidated by comparative analyses of related C3 and C4 species. Here, we use mRNA-Seq analysis of five species within the genus Flaveria, ranging from C3 to C3-C4 intermediate to C4 species, to quantify the differences in the transcriptomes of closely related plant species with varying degrees of C4-associated characteristics. Single gene analysis defines the C4 cycle enzymes and transporters more precisely and provides new candidates for yet unknown functions as well as identifies C4 associated pathways. Molecular evidence for a photorespiratory CO2 pump prior to the establishment of the C4 cycle-based CO2 pump is provided. Cluster analysis defines the upper limit of C4-related gene expression changes in mature leaves of Flaveria as 3582 alterations. © 2011 American Society of Plant Biologists. All rights reserved.