Source: School of Life Science
Written by: School of Life Science
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

Recently, the paper entitled "Optimization of Light Harvesting Pigment Improves Photosynthetic Efficiency" from Prof. Hongbin Wang’s group was selected as one of the Top Topics of 2016 by the leading academic journal Plant Physiology (Best of 2016: Top Topics in Plant Physiology journal).

Professor Hongbin Wang’s group identified HPE1 gene as a key regulator of photosynthetic efficiency through a large scale genetic screen. HPE1 encodes a RNA recognition motif-containing chloroplast protein which regulates RNA splicing of plastid genes. Further study indicates that HPE1 mutation results in the accumulation of RNA precursors which alter the expression of chlorophyll-related genes probably through plastid to nucleus signaling, thus leading to adjusted light-harvesting pigments which increase photosynthetic quantum yield and biomass production. These findings were published in Plant Physiology [2016, 172 (3): 1720–1731, IF5-Yr=8.030]. Dr. Honglei Jin is the first author of this paper, also, Prof. Jinfa Wang and Hongbin Wang are the co-corresponding authors. This work was funded by the National Science and Technology Major Project Foundation of China and The National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars.

In addition, this paper is also highlighted by Plant Physiology journal (On the Inside: Enhancing Photosynthesis by Maximizing Light Capture), and recommended by F1000 as "New Finding".

The tremendous increase in world population poses serious challenges to agricultural production and food security. To meet this challenge, crops with high yield potential need to be developed. Photosynthesis, the unique biological process responsible for the conversion of light energy to chemical forms, is the ultimate basis of crop yield. Theoretically, enhancing photosynthetic efficiency should be an excellent strategy to increase crop yield. However, improving photosynthetic efficiency has been proved to be very hard to achieve and thus has played only a minor role in the remarkable crop productivity improvement achieved in the last half-century. The discovery made by Professor Hongbin Wang’s group brings new hope to this ultimate strategy of enhancing crop yield.

Web site links:

This paper: http://www.plantphysiol.org/content/early/2016/09/08/pp.16.00698.full.pdf+html

On the Inside: www.plantphysiol.org/content/172/3/1355.full

Best of 2016: http://blog.aspb.org/2016/12/13/best-of-2016-top-topics-in-plant-physiology-jounal/

F1000: http://f1000.com/prime/726724502