Humans adjust to changes in temperature by putting on a sweater or taking off layers. Plants adjust to temperature changes, in part, by switching the way they express the protein that performs the critical first step of photosynthesis, according to new research from Cornell, Texas A&M and Stockholm University.

Rubisco is the most abundant protein on Earth, and it is responsible for fixing carbon so that plants can convert it into photosynthetic energy. Better understanding of the basic science underpinning rubisco’s function, therefore, has implications for increasing agricultural yields, improving carbon sequestration technology and understanding how plants may adapt to a warming climate.

In the paper “ Rubisco Kinetic Acclimation at the Holoenzyme Level,” published April 15 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers demonstrate that while rubisco’s protein core remains consistent, parts of its exterior can be swapped out, akin to an outfit. A stiffer exterior is preferred in the heat, for protection, and a looser one in the cold, to increase efficiency. This study, using the mustard-family plant Arabidopsis, is the first to show how rubisco acclimates to temperature changes in any plant species.