These reactions are not
only essential for the regeneration of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate in
the C3 cycle to maintain active photosynthesis, but also provide the
immediate precursor molecules for the shikimic acid pathway and
phenylpropanoid metabolism (erythrose 4-phosphate) and may
also influence the level of G3P and ribose 5-phosphate, substrates
for thiamine biosynthesis. One hypothesis that this work has raised
is that increasing TK activity in the plant may have the potential to
increase carbon assimilation through the C3 cycle and also to increase
phenylpropanoid metabolism