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. 1986 Sep;82(1):77–82. doi: 10.1104/pp.82.1.77

Effects of pH on Activity and Activation of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase at Air Level CO21

Keith A Mott 1,2,2, Joseph A Berry 1,2
PMCID: PMC1056069  PMID: 16665027

Abstract

The effects of pH on catalysis and activation characteristics of spinach ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase were examined at air level of CO2. Catalysis at limiting CO2 was independent of pH over the range of pH 8.2 to 8.8 However, the kinetics of activation and the apparent equilibrium between the activated and inactivated forms of the enzyme were strongly dependent upon the pH and the presence or absence of the substrate RuBP. When incubated at air level of CO2 at pH 8.2 in the absence of RuBP, the enzyme activation state was approximately 75% of that achieved with saturating CO2 at that pH. The extent of activation increased with pH reaching 100% at pH values of 8.6 or higher. Adding RuBP to the activation medium after equilibrium activation state had been established decreased the apparent equilibrium activation level at pH values below 8.6. This effect was reversed at pH values above 8.6. Activation of inactive enzyme by CO2 and Mg2+ was inhibited dramatically at pH values below 8.6 and less so at pH values above 8.6. Studies showed that binding of RuBP to the inactive form of the enzyme was pH dependent with tighter binding occurring at lower pH values. It is suggested that the tight binding of RuBP to the inactive enzyme tends to decrease the equilibrium concentration of the activated form at pH values less than 8.6. These studies indicate that stromal pH could have a strong effect on the activation state of this enzyme in vivo, and possible feedback interactions which might adjust the apparent Vmax to match the rate of RuBP regeneration are discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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