Question

What is the full form of Rubisco?

Answer 1

Hint: RUBisCo is a common and the most abundant enzyme that is present on the earth. It is one of the many enzymes that take part in the Calvin cycle for the formation of glycerate-3-phosphate as the product.

Complete answer:
RUBisco, rubisco, RUBPCase or we say RUBPco is an enzyme that is a first major step of carbon fixation, a process in which the atmospheric carbon dioxide gets converted by the plants and other organisms to energy-rich molecules like glucose. This enzyme can catalyse the carboxylation of ribulose- 1,5- bisphosphate also called RUBP.

RUBisCo is one of the most important biological substances as it catalyzes the primary chemical reactions by which inorganic carbon enters the biosphere. There are many autotrophic bacteria that fix up the carbon present in the air through the reverse Krebs cycle. They are considered as small contributors for the global carbon fixation as compared to the ones being catalyzed by RUBisCo. They are the most abundant protein on the leaves which account for 50% of soluble leaf protein in the $C_3$ plants and 30% of soluble leaf proteins that are present in the $C_4$ plants.

RUBisCo stands for Ribulose- 1,5 bisphosphate carboxylase- oxygenase that is generally found in plants, algae, cyanobacteria and phototrophic bacteria. It consists of two types of protein subunit, called the large chain and the small chain. The large chain gene is encoded by the chloroplast DNA in plants whereas the small chains are imported to the stromal compartment of the chloroplast. It is one of the enzymes in the Calvin cycle. When RUBisCo facilitates the attack of the $CO_2$ at the $C_2$ carbon of RUBP, there is bond cleavage between the $C_3$ and $C_2$ carbon, 2 molecules of glycerate-3- phosphate is formed as the product.

Therefore the full form of RuBisCO is Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase.

Note: RUBisCO is also had nutritional value containing a high amount of essential amino acids which makes them unique vegetable protein. It is also a good candidate for the food application. We can use it not only as a protein source but also as an emulsifier, gelling and foaming agent. It makes it perfect for very different kinds of people like pregnant women, sportsmen but is suitable for vegans, Kosher and Halal.