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 C(3) (e.g. Arabidopsis, rice, and poplar) and C(4) (e.g. sorghum and maize) plant species. These genome sequences enabled comparative quantitative proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of C(3) and C(4) plants, in particular of their chloroplasts. Such analyses have revealed a comprehensive picture of the distribution of C(4) pathway components between bundle sheath and mesophyll cell chloroplasts and they permitted the prediction of novel pathway components. A comprehensive understanding of the C(4) photosynthetic mechanism is required for the transfer of C(4)-like photosynthesis into C(3) crop plants, such as rice.