Skip to main content

Advanced Plant Experiment-09 (APEX 09) - C4 Space


EMSL Project ID
61029

Abstract

Advanced Plant Experiment-09 (APEX 09) the C4 photosynthesis in Space (C4 Space) project examines how microgravity affects C3 and C4 plant metabolism. Plants capture atmospheric CO2 and convert it into O2 and sugars through photosynthesis. C3 and C4 plants have two different CO2-concentrating mechanisms. C4 Space project seeks to compare the impact of space-station conditions on C3 and C4 metabolism using Brachypodium distachyon, a C3 model grass and Setaria viridis, a C4 model grass. We aim to unravel the C3 and C4 metabolic reprogramming occurring under the space environment compared to Earth.

Project Details

Start Date
2023-11-08
End Date
N/A
Status
Active

Team

Principal Investigator

Pubudu Handakumbura
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory