Rewiring Photosynthesis for a Sustainable Future
The GAIN4CROPS project (2020–2026) has successfully concluded its mission to enhance crop productivity by developing innovative strategies to rewire photorespiration. By combining cutting-edge genomics, synthetic biology, systems modelling, and sustainability assessment, the project has generated new knowledge and tools to support more resilient and resource-efficient agriculture in the face of climate change.
Rather than delivering a single end product, GAIN4CROPS has built a scientific and technological foundation for future crop innovation, while identifying the key bottlenecks that must be addressed to translate photosynthesis research into real-world impact.
1. Unravelling the genetic blueprint of C3–C4 intermediacy
GAIN4CROPS conducted one of the most comprehensive comparative studies to date on photosynthetic diversity and regulation, focusing on C3–C4 intermediate species and their relevance for improving carbon fixation efficiency.
Comparative genomics in the sunflower family
We sequenced and analysed several species to identify genetic features associated with enhanced carbon pumping and photosynthetic performance, providing a valuable resource for evolutionary and translational research.
Single-nuclei RNA-seq atlas of two independently evolved C4 dicot species
A high-resolution transcriptomic atlas was developed for Gynandropsis gynandra and Flaveria bidentis. This high-resolution analysis reveals that bundle sheath cells in both C4 species retain gene-expression patterns similar to mesophyll cells of C3 plants, pointing to conserved regulatory modules that have evolved repeatedly across plant lineages.
Natural variation in sunflower
Screening of sunflower inbred lines showed that a large proportion of the observed variation in photosystem II efficiency is genetically determined, providing a robust foundation for future breeding and engineering strategies.
Related GAIN4CROPS news
2. Demonstrating the feasibility of alternative photorespiratory routes
A central objective of GAIN4CROPS was to test whether photorespiration can be rationally redesigned rather than eliminated. The project explored multiple synthetic and redesigned photorespiratory pathways (the BHAC Pathway Fand the TaCo Pathway) demonstrating that:
- photorespiratory flux can be redirected to reduce carbon loss,
- alternative routes can lower energy dissipation under defined conditions,
- engineered pathways can be functionally integrated into host metabolism, operating alongside native photorespiration.
While full agronomic deployment remains a long-term goal, GAIN4CROPS delivered proofs of principle at increasing levels of biological complexity, moving the field well beyond purely theoretical designs and establishing practical boundaries for future engineering.
Related GAIN4CROPS news
3. Building predictive and reusable frameworks
A core contribution of GAIN4CROPS lies in its computational and systems biology frameworks, which were developed in parallel with experimental work to guide design choices and reduce trial-and-error approaches. These include:
- metabolic and photosynthesis models linking carbon fixation, photorespiration, and sink demand,
- simulations identifying bottlenecks, trade-offs, and context-dependent effects,
- reusable code and datasets released openly to support reproducibility and reuse.
These tools enable researchers to ask not only whether an intervention may work, but under which environmental and physiological conditions it is likely to be beneficial, supporting more rational and predictive engineering strategies.
