What is rubiscoe?

Answer 1

Rubisco is a crucial protein to life and without it, it is safe to say our world would be much different. More specifically, Rubisco contains 8 large subunits coded by rbcL (a gene found in the chloroplast) as well as 8 smalled units coded by rbcS (found in the nucleus). The reason that Rubisco is so important to our world is that it acts as a catalyst for the Calvin Cycle, therefore making sure that the cycle can metabolize ATP from glucose (sugar). This also makes it the most abdunent protein on earth.

Rubisco is used from the very start of the Calvin Cycle. From the second that CO2 is taken in by the plant, Rubisco "kick starts" the process. Starting with phase 1: Carbon Fixation which is where phosphoglycerate, bisphosphoglycerate, ATP, as well as some NADPH are produced. The second phase: Reduction, is where Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, as well as glucose is produced. In the final cycle (before it repeats) Regeneration of CO2 Acceptor, ribulose bisphosphate is produced. And then the Calvin Cycle continues all over again, producing more and more ATP and glucose.

The entire reason that the Calvin Cycle works is because Rubisco acts as the enzyme, therefore making it one of the most important proteins on earth.