Western blots of electron transport chain components
To understand the reasons why PSI and PSII dependent electron transfer
rates increased at limiting as well as saturating light intensities inCAx plants (Fig. 3e,f) , certain components of the Chl
biosynthesis, light-harvesting complex, photosynthetic electron
transport chain and rubisco were analysed by the western blot. Equal
loading of the protein (25 µg) was checked by running 12% SDS-PAGE
(Fig. 5c ). The abundance of Chl biosynthetic enzyme UROD
increased by 15% -25% in CAx3 and CAx5 plants (Figs. 5c,d ).
As compared with VC plants, the abundance of LHCII, light-harvesting
Chl-binding proteins, associated with PSII, increased by 12%-17% in
CAx plants (Figs. 5c,d ). The inter-system electron transport
components between PSI and PSII, i.e., Cytb6f complex, and Cyt f in it,
increased by 25%-35% and 16%-20% in CAx3 and CAx5, respectively
(Figs. 5c,d ). Similarly, the oxygen evolving complex protein
OEC33 (PsbO) had increased by 22% and 27% in CAx3 and CAx5
(Figs. 5c,d ). One of the electron transport components of PSI,
PsaE (PSIIV) increased by 20%-25% in the overexpressors (Figs.
5c,d ). The protein abundance of the large subunit (LSU) as well as the
small subunit (SSU) of rubisco had also increased by 11%-14% and
8%-11%, respectively, in the overexpressors (Figs. 5c,d).