Question

10 Why is the RuBisCo enzyme more
appropriately called RuBP Carboxylase-
oxygenase and what important role does it
play in photosynthesis ?​

Answer 1

****The answer is given below***

RuBisCo is appropriately called RUBP carboxylase - oxygenase because the enzyme catalyses the carboxylation (the chemical process by which a carboxyl group -COOH is added) of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate, RuBP, a 5-carbon compound, by carbon dioxide (a total of 6 carbons) in a two-step reaction.

Sometimes the magnesium metal center of Rubisco coordinates to RuBP and oxygen instead of carbon dioxide. Rubisco then catalyzes an oxygenase reaction. Under normal conditions the rate of the carboxylase reaction is 4 times faster than the oxygenase reaction.

Role of Rubisco is the enzyme that attaches each carbon dioxide molecule to a molecule of ribulose biphosphate. It provides acceptor molecules that consume the products of the light reactions of photosynthesis, and regulates the pool sizes of important photosynthetic intermediates.