EPiC: Enhanced Photosynthesis in Crops

We propose a focused research initiative that applies the game-changing modern protein engineering techniques of continuous directed evolution, machine learning (ML), and in silico modeling to the RuBisCO problem. These methods, which have revolutionized medicine, have never been applied to RuBisCO. Directed evolution in combination with computational modeling can now routinely produce 5-fold improvements to enzyme activities.19-23 In our case, improvements as minor as 10% would be invaluable, and would lead immediately to field trials and translational applications in crop plants. This approach differs substantially to all previous attempts at rational and directed evolution on RuBisCO and can be summarized by the following core innovative aspects of the proposal