β-carbonic anhydrases and carbonic ions uptake positively influence Arabidopsis photosynthesis, oxidative stress tolerance and growth in light dependent manner.

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) catalyse reversible interconversion of CO and water into bicarbonate and protons and regulate concentration of CO around photosynthetic enzymes. In higher plants the CAs are divided into three distinct classes α, β and γ, with members off each of them being involved in CO uptake, fixation or recycling. The most abundant group is βCAs. In C4 plants they are localized in the cytosol of mesophyll cells and catalyse first step of carbon concentration pathway. C3 plants contain orthologues genes encoding βCAs's, however their functions are unknown. Given the importance of βCAs in the present study we analysed the effect of carbonic ions, selected orthologues βCAs's gene expression and βCAs enzymatic activity on Arabidopsis photosynthesis, growth and cell death in different light conditions. Plants fertilised with 0.5-3mM sodium bicarbonate had a significantly increased number of leaves, improved fresh and dry weight and reduced cell death (cellular ion leakage). This effect was dependent on provided photon flux density and photoperiod. Higher content of carbonic ions also stimulated photoprotective mechanisms such as non-photochemical quenching and foliar content of photoprotective pigments (neoxanthin, violaxanthin and carotenes). Function of various βCAs genes examined in null βcas mutants showed to be complementary and additive, and confirm results of fertilizing experiments. Taken together, regulation of βCAs gene expression and enzymatic activities are important for optimal plant growth and probably can be one of the factor influencing a switch between C3 and C4 photosynthesis mode in variable light conditions. Therefore, biotechnological amelioration of βCAs activity in economically important plants and their fertilisation with carbonic ions may lead to improved photosynthetic efficiency and further crop productivity.