Two cowpea Rubisco activase isoforms for crop thermotolerance.

ABSTRACT: A vital crop for sub-Saharan Africa, cowpea productivity, is threatened by climate change, including increased heatwave intensity, duration and frequency. Rubisco activase (Rca) is a key molecular chaperone that maintains Rubisco activity and, due to its thermal sensitivity, is a key target for improving crop climate resilience. We identified and characterised four Rca isoforms in Vigna unguiculata cv IT97K-499-35 in vitro: Rca1β, Rca8α, Rca10α and Rca10β. Cowpea leaf and plant growth traits were also investigated during a 5-d +10°C heatwave that included assessment of Rubisco and Rca activity in leaf extracts and relative changes in the abundance of the four Rca isoforms. Cowpea Rca10α and Rca10β had higher thermal maxima, broader thermal optima and higher rates of ATP hydrolysis and Rubi

SUBMITTER: Gjindali A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12222919 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature