What role does Rubisco play in plants?

Rubisco, or ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, is a crucial enzyme in the process of photosynthesis. Its primary role is to facilitate carbon fixation, which is the conversion of inorganic carbon dioxide into organic molecules that plants use for energy and growth. During the Calvin cycle, Rubisco catalyzes the reaction between carbon dioxide and a five-carbon sugar, ribulose bisphosphate, resulting in a three-carbon compound that eventually leads to glucose and other carbohydrates.

This enzymatic process is foundational for the production of organic matter in plants, making Rubisco vital not only for plant growth but also for the entire ecosystem, as it contributes to the carbon cycle by converting atmospheric carbon into a form that can be utilized by living organisms. This emphasizes its important role in supporting life on Earth, as the fixation of carbon dioxide is a critical step in photosynthesis, the process that underpins food chains and energy flow within ecosystems.