Lead Institution
CCARBON – Center for Carbon Research in Tropical Agriculture (University of São Paulo)
Supervisor
Prof. Dr. Helaine Carrer (ESALQ/USP)
Host Institution
ESALQ/USP, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
Fellowship
Postdoctoral fellowship funded by FAPESP
Stipend: R$ 12.570,00 per month
Duration
24 months (full-time dedication/40 hours per week)
Expected Start Date
Immediate
Project Title
Improvement of Photosynthesis by Engineering Rubisco Enzyme for Soil Carbon Sequestration
Abstract
Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts, and it can be divided into two stages, the light reactions, which concern the capture of light energy by the chlorophyll and pigments in the thylakoid membranes, water splitting and electron transport on the chloroplast membrane reducing NADP to NADPH and producing ATP that are used as power in the Calvin Cycle to reduce the assimilated carbon dioxide to carbohydrate by the single most abundant protein on earth, Rubisco. Unfortunately, this protein is negatively influenced by molecular oxygen, thus limiting the productivity of many key plants. This project has the objective to construct model plants (tobacco) in which Rubisco is modified in such that the enzyme’s sensitivity to molecular oxygen is decreased. This will be followed by determining the physiological consequences of these specific enzyme alterations. The physiological consequences of these specific enzyme alterations will be assessed by measuring photosynthetic performance, plant growth, and carbon allocation. In addition, isotopic carbon labelling will be used to trace the fate of recently fixed carbon within the plant-soil system. This approach will allow us to quantify how carbon assimilated by plants with different Rubisco efficiencies is allocated to shoots, roots, root exudates, and soil carbon pools. By linking Rubisco efficiency with belowground carbon transfer and potential stabilization in soil, this project will evaluate whether improving plant carbon fixation can also enhance soil carbon sequestration.
Project Description and Objectives
The postdoctoral researcher will be primarily responsible for:
- to manipulate and exploit the biochemical potential of plants to improve efficiency of photosynthesis maintaining atmospheric carbon balance.
- To construct plastid vectors for genetically stable transformed plants.
- To characterize the rubisco mutant plants by physiology analysis in the chambers at different light and CO2 levels.
- To measure the net CO2 assimilation (photosynthesis) rate (A, μmol CO2 m−2 s−1), stomatal conductance to water vapor (Gs, mmol m−2 s−1) and transpiration (E, g/m−2 h−1) will be performed using a portable infrared CO2/H2O gas analyzer (IRGA).
- To measure C allocation in different components of plants (shoot, root, soil).
- Measure the proportion of soil C derived from plant assimilated C in different pools using the isotopic signature.
Candidate Requirements
Mandatory
- PhD in Agronomy, Biological Sciences, Plant Biology, Plant Genetics and breeding, Environmental Science or related fields
- Experience with molecular biology tools (DNA cloning, PCR, RT-qPCR), plant genetic transformation, basic bioinformatics, plant physiology analysis, use of IRGA.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
- Proficiency in English for reading, writing, and presenting.
- Availability to reside in Piracicaba (SP), with full-time dedication.
Desired (a plus)
- Experience with soil biogeochemistry (soil sampling, processing and C quantification)
- Experience with isotopic tools (IRMS)
- Experience in multidisciplinary projects.
- Knowledge in project management.
Application deadline
June 30
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted through the link of CCARBON open opportunities:
https://forms.gle/8iXKrs1VSHEiibGB8
Additional Information
For any questions, please contact us at: hecarrer@usp.br
