Remodelling encapsulin nanocages to help enhance plant carbon fixation

Nature has evolved mechanisms in microbial systems to improve photosynthetic efficiency by saturating theenzyme Rubisco with carbon dioxide. These carbon concentrating mechanisms are genetically complex,precluding successful introduction into crops. Our simpler approach is to use encapsulins, a new source of robustbacterial pore-containing nanocages made from a single gene. This project will optimise the development ofsynthetic encapsulin-Rubisco carbon-fixing nanoreactors and transform them into leaf chloroplasts to test theirimpact on plant photosynthesis and growth. Our genetically simpler solution will aid ongoing global efforts todeliver overdue step change improvements in agricultural productivity.