Carbon Fixation Strategies and Adaptation in Photosynthetic Organisms: From Molecular Mechanisms to Evolutionary Perspectives

The field of photosynthesis and photobiology has significantly advanced our understanding of how photosynthetic organisms capture and utilize carbon, pivotal for their survival and growth in diverse environmental conditions. The evolution of carbon acquisition and assimilation strategies in photosynthetic organisms has shaped their adaptation to diverse environmental conditions. Despite extensive research, there remain several unresolved questions regarding the molecular evolution of key enzymes like Rubisco and the development of carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) across different habitats and species.

This Research Topic aims to dissect the evolutionary trajectory of carbon acquisition and assimilation methods in photosynthetic organisms. It seeks to elucidate the relationship between these mechanisms and the ecological adaptations of species, exploring how evolutionary pressures and different habitats have shaped and influenced these processes over millennia. By concentrating on the molecular, physiological, and ecological aspects, this research hopes to highlight evolutionary patterns and functional outcomes of different carbon-fixing strategies.

To gather further insights into the evolutionary aspects of carbon handling in photosynthetic organisms, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Evolutionary changes in Rubisco kinetics and implications for carbon assimilation efficiency

• The development and ecological impact of CCMs in terrestrial plants, focusing on C4 and CAM pathways

• Diversity and function of aquatic CCMs in organisms like cyanobacteria and algae

• Enhancements in crop photosynthesis through genetic and biotechnological modifications of CCMs and Rubisco

• Interactions between photosynthetic carbon assimilation and environmental factors, including strategies for climate adaptation

Understanding these critical aspects will not only extend our knowledge of photosynthetic biology but also contribute to applications in agriculture and efforts to mitigate climate change.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Carbon Acquisition, Carbon Assimilation, Photosynthetic Organisms, Rubisco, Carbon-Concentrating Mechanisms (CCMs)

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.