Yuzhen Fan

Yuzhen Fan is a Fellow at The Australian National University, affiliated with the Research School of Biology. Their research focuses on the evolution of three biochemical types of C4 photosynthesis—NADP-ME, NAD-ME, and PCK—and their impact on mitochondrial functions, properties, and metabolism. Specifically, they investigate how mitochondria in bundle sheath cells contribute to decarboxylation of metabolites in NAD-ME and PCK types, as well as their role in ATP provision and changes in mitochondrial abundance, location, and respiratory substrate preference. Their work has implications for understanding C4 respiration, improving photosynthesis models, and exploring mitochondrial-chloroplast interactions in C4 plants.

Yuzhen Fan is a Post-Doctoral Research Associate at The Australian National University, focusing on C4 photosynthesis, C4 respiration, and plant (eco)physiology. Their research integrates biochemistry and modelling to explore how plants respond to environmental stressors, such as heatwaves and drought. Fan's work examines the role of mitochondria in supporting C4 photosynthesis and the factors influencing dark respiration in C3 and C4 plants. They also investigate leaf trait variation and the impact of genotype and environment on photosynthetic and respiratory processes. Their studies contribute to understanding the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying plant resilience and efficiency in different ecosystems.