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Related Concept Videos

The Calvin Benson Cycle01:46

The Calvin Benson Cycle

Ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) is a critical enzyme that catalyzes carbon dioxide assimilation during photosynthesis. However, it is an inefficient enzyme, having an extremely slow catalytic rate. A typical enzyme can process about a thousand molecules per second; however, RuBisCo fixes only around three-carbon dioxides per second. Photosynthetic cells compensate for this slow rate by synthesizing very high amounts of RuBisCo, making it the most abundant single...
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The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
Regulation of Metabolism01:19

Regulation of Metabolism

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C4 Pathway and CAM01:27

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Author Correction: Laboratory evolution of Rubisco solubility and catalytic switches to enhance plant productivity.

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Laboratory evolution of Rubisco solubility and catalytic switches to enhance plant productivity.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 5, 2026

Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis
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Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis

Published on: December 9, 2022

Catalysis and regulation in Rubisco.

Inger Andersson1

  • 1Department of Molecular Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, BMC Box 590, S-751 24 Uppsala, Sweden. inger@xray.bmc.uu.se

Journal of Experimental Botany
|April 18, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is an inefficient enzyme crucial for life. Understanding its structure and regulation can improve crop yield and global carbon cycling.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Plant Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is a key enzyme in carbon fixation.
  • Rubisco's catalytic inefficiency and oxygenation side-reactions impact crop productivity and global cycles.
  • Enzyme regulation involves light, metabolites, and chaperones.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a molecular framework for understanding Rubisco's function and regulation.
  • To elucidate the structural basis of Rubisco's catalytic efficiency and substrate specificity.
  • To explore the implications of Rubisco's limitations for agriculture and the carbon cycle.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of numerous high-resolution crystal structures of Rubisco.
  • Investigation of Rubisco's complex biosynthesis and multi-step catalytic reaction.

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Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections
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  • Study of regulatory mechanisms involving light, metabolites, and molecular chaperones.

    • Main Results:

    • High-resolution structures reveal molecular details of Rubisco.
    • Structural data aids in understanding catalytic mechanisms and regulation.
    • Insights into Rubisco's inefficiencies and their consequences.

    Conclusions:

    • Structural insights are critical for understanding Rubisco's limitations.
    • Further research on Rubisco can lead to improved crop yields and resource use.
    • Understanding Rubisco is vital for addressing global carbon cycle dynamics.