Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Maricopa, Arizona » U.S. Arid Land Agricultural Research Center » Plant Physiology and Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #241317
Title: Isolation of Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase from Leaves

Author
item Do Carmo Silva, Anaelisabete
item Salvucci, Michael

Submitted to: Methods in Molecular Biology
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/15/2009
Publication Date: 8/24/2010
Citation: Do Carmo Silva, A., Barta, C., Salvucci, M.E., 2010. Isolation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase from leaves. Methods in Molecular Biology. 684:339-347.

Interpretive Summary: In the process of photosynthesis, plants convert sunlight into chemical energy. The energy produced by photosynthesis is then used to synthesize sugars and other foodstuffs. Rubisco, the plant enzyme that starts the process by capturing the carbon dioxide, is widely regarded as the limiting step in photosynthesis. To study the properties of Rubisco, it is necessary to purify the enzyme from leaves. In this manuscript, we describe a simple method for the purification of Rubisco from leaves. By sharing our procedures with other researchers, the research in this manuscript will accelerate research on this important plant enzyme in plant biology. Research on Rubisco could eventually lead to breakthroughs that improve the efficiency of photosynthesis.

Technical Abstract: Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is a multi-functional enzyme that catalyzes the fixation of CO2 and O2 in photosynthesis and photorespiration, respectively. As the rate-limiting step in photosynthesis, improving the catalytic properties of Rubisco has long been viewed as a viable strategy for increasing plant productivity. Advances in biotechnology have made this goal more attainable by making it possible to modify Rubisco in planta. To properly evaluate the properties of Rubisco, it is necessary to isolate the enzyme in pure form. This chapter describes procedures for rapid and efficient purification of Rubisco from leaves of several species.