The Hidden Face of Rubisco

Trends Plant Sci. 2018 May;23(5):382-392. doi: 10.1016/j.tplants.2018.02.006. Epub 2018 Mar 7.

Abstract

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) fixes atmospheric CO2 into organic compounds and is composed of eight copies each of a large subunit (RbcL) and a small subunit (RbcS). Recent reports have revealed unusual RbcS, which are expressed in particular tissues and confer higher catalytic rate, lesser affinity for CO2, and a more acidic profile of the activity versus pH. The resulting Rubisco was proposed to be adapted to a high CO2 environment and recycle CO2 generated by the metabolism. These RbcS belong to a cluster named T (for trichome), phylogenetically distant from cluster M, which gathers well-characterized RbcS expressed in mesophyll or bundle-sheath tissues. Cluster T is largely represented in different plant phyla, including pteridophytes and bryophytes, indicating an ancient origin.

Keywords: CO(2) recycling; RbcS; evolution; photosynthesis; structure; trichome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Plant
  • Models, Molecular
  • Phylogeny
  • Plant Proteins / chemistry
  • Plant Proteins / genetics
  • Plant Proteins / metabolism*
  • Plants / genetics
  • Plants / metabolism*
  • Protein Conformation
  • Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / classification
  • Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / genetics
  • Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase / metabolism*

Substances

  • Plant Proteins
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase