Possible CO2 concentrating mechanism in chloroplasts of C3 plants. Role of carbonic anhydrase.

The possibility of a specific CO2 concentrating mechanism present in chloroplasts of C3 plants is analyzed. Proton gradient between thylakoids and the stroma is assumed to be the driving force for this process. The possible CO2 concentrating mechanisms are: 1. HCO3- permeation into thylakoids, its dehydration there and diffusion of CO2 formed into the stroma; 2. Dehydration of HCO3- present in the stroma at the thylakoid surface in a reaction with H+ leaving the thylakoids through: a) channels of membrane-bound carbonic anhydrase; b) channels of the ATPase complex. A system of equations describing CO3- and CO2 diffusion as well as CO2 assimilation and formation was used. The increase in photosynthesis rate, upon CO2 diffusion being facilitated in the presence of carbonic anhydrase, and due to the action of CO2 concentrating mechanisms, was numerically estimated. The CO2 concentrating mechanism was shown to function effectively only with the entire chloroplast being the CO2 concentrating zone. This is the case when the bulk of stromal carbonic anhydrase is localized near the inner chloroplast envelope. The existence of CO2 concentrating mechanisms around a single granum or around thylakoids is hardly possible. Approaches enabling the detection of similar concentrating mechanisms are discussed.