Open AccessMicrobial ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase: a molecule for phylogenetic and enzymological investigation
Author(s) -
Watson Gregory M.F,
Tabita F.Robert
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1997.tb10165.x
Subject(s) - rubisco , oxygenase , ribulose 1,5 bisphosphate , pyruvate carboxylase , biochemistry , context (archaeology) , enzyme , ribulose , biology , chemistry , paleontology
Abstract Ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RubisCO) catalyzes the key reaction of the Calvin reductive pentose phosphate cycle and as such is responsible for life as we know it. This enzyme has been intensively studied for decades. Evidence that RubisCO phylogenies are incongruent with those derived from other macromolecules has been accumulating and recent discoveries have driven home this point. Here we review findings regarding RubisCO phylogeny and discuss these in the context of the important biochemical and structural features of the enzyme. The implications for the engineering of improved RubisCO enzymes are considered.