A cytosolic glyoxylate shunt complements the canonical photorespiratory pathway in Arabidopsis

Xiaotong Jiang, Amanda M. Koenig, Berkley J. Walker and Jianping Hu ()
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Xiaotong Jiang: Michigan State University
Amanda M. Koenig: Michigan State University
Berkley J. Walker: Michigan State University
Jianping Hu: Michigan State University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-18

Abstract: Abstract Photorespiration functions in part to support photosynthetic performance, especially under stress such as high light, yet the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. To identify modulators of photorespiration under high light, we have isolated genetic suppressors of the photorespiratory mutant hpr1 (hydroxypyruvate reductase 1) from Arabidopsis. A suppressor that partially rescues hpr1 is mapped to GLYR1, which encodes the cytosolic glyoxylate reductase 1 that converts glyoxylate to glycolate. Independent glyr1 mutants also partially rescue hpr1 and another photorespiratory mutant, catalase 2. Our genetic, transcriptomic and metabolic profiling analyses together reveal a connection between cytosolic glyoxylate and a non-canonical photorespiratory route mediated by HPR2, which we name the photorespiratory glyoxylate shunt. This shunt complements the canonical photorespiratory pathway and is especially critical when high photorespiratory fluxes are required and when the major photorespiratory pathway is deficient. Our findings support the metabolic flexibility of photorespiration and may help to improve crop performance under stress.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-59349-2

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