%A Raven,John %D 2013 %J Frontiers in Plant Science %C %F %G English %K diel,Growth,allocation,peptide elongation,protein synthesis %Q %R 10.3389/fpls.2013.00536 %W %L %M %P %7 %8 2013-December-26 %9 Review %+ Prof John Raven,University of Dundee,Division of Plant Science,University of Dundee at the James Hutton Institute,Invergowrie,Dundee,DD2 5DQ,United Kingdom,JAR25061941@gmail.com %+ Prof John Raven,University of Western Australia,School of Plant Biology,35 Stirling Highway,Crawley,Perth,6009,WA,Australia,JAR25061941@gmail.com %# %! RNA function and phosphorus use by photosynthetic organisms %* %< %T RNA function and phosphorus use by photosynthetic organisms %U https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2013.00536 %V 4 %0 JOURNAL ARTICLE %@ 1664-462X %X Phosphorus (P) in RNA accounts for half or more of the total non-storage P in oxygenic photolithotrophs grown in either P-replete or P-limiting growth conditions. Since many natural environments are P-limited for photosynthetic primary productivity, and peak phosphorus fertilizer production is inevitable, the paper analyses what economies in P allocation to RNA could, in principle, increase P-use efficiency of growth (rate of dry matter production per unit organism P). The possibilities of decreasing P allocation to RNA without decreasing growth rate include (1) more widespread down-regulation of RNA production in P-limited organisms, (2) optimal allocation of P to RNA, both spatially among cell compartments and organs, and temporally depending on the stage of growth, and (3) a constant rate of protein synthesis through the diel cycle. Acting on these suggestions would, however, be technically demanding.