Regulation of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase Activity in Response to Changing Partial Pressure of O2 and Light in Phaseolus vulgaris

The regulation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase (rubisco) activity in Phaseolus vulgaris was studied under moderate CO(2) and high light, conditions in which photosynthesis in C(3) plants can be insensitive to changes in O(2) partial pressure. Steady state RuBP concentrations were higher, the calculated rate of RuBP use was lower and the activation state of rubisco was lower in low O(2) relative to values observed in normal O(2). It is suggested that the reduced activity of rubisco observed here is related to feedback effects which occur when the rate of net CO(2) assimilation approaches the maximum capacity for starch and sucrose synthesis (triose phosphate utilization). The activation state of rubisco was independent of O(2) partial pressure when light or CO(2) was limiting for photosynthesis. Reduced activity of rubisco was also observed at limiting light. However, in this species light dependent changes in the concentration of an inhibitor of rubisco controlled the apparent V(max) of rubisco in low light while changes in the CO(2)-Mg(2+) dependent activation of rubisco controlled the apparent V(max) in high light.