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. 1991 Jan;95(1):298–304. doi: 10.1104/pp.95.1.298

Variability in Ribulose-1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase Small Subunits and Carboxylation Activity in Fern Gametophytes Grown under Different Light Spectra 1

Haviva Eilenberg 1,2, Sven Beer 1,2, Shimon Gepstein 1,2, Nurit Geva 1,2, Orly Tadmor 1,2, Aviah Zilberstein 1,2
PMCID: PMC1077522  PMID: 16667969

Abstract

Two distinct ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) small subunit (SSU) populations were observed in Pteris vittata gametophytes grown under different illumination conditions. Exposure of the fern gametophytes to continuous red light (R) resulted in Rubisco SSUs that were not recognized by polyclonal antibodies raised against SSUs from spinach. Unlike the R-induced SSUs, blue light (B) induced SSUs were well recognized. This difference in SSU composition also reflected in Rubisco activity. In vitro, B-induced Rubisco exhibits a significantly higher carboxylation activity as compared to the R-induced Rubisco. Approximately a two- to threefold increase in the Vmax value of the B-induced carboxylase as compared to the R-induced one was measured. It thus seems very likely that certain domains in the SSU molecule affect enzyme activity.

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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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