Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase oxygenase, better known as
RuBisCO,[note 1] is an enzyme that catalyzes the first major
step of carbon fixation in the Calvin cycle. Carbon fixation is
a process by which the atoms of atmospheric carbon dioxide are
made available to organisms in the form of energy-rich molecules
such as glucose. RuBisCO splits 6-C molecules into two equal
parts. RuBisCO is also the most abundant protein in leaves and
the most abundant protein on Earth. It accounts for 50% of
soluble leaf protein (20-30% of total leaf nitrogen) and 30% of
soluble leaf protein in plants (5-9% of total leaf nitrogen).
Notes and references [change] - Wildman SG (2002). "Along the
trail from fraction I protein to Rubisco (ribulose bisphosphate
carboxylase-oxygenase)". Photosyn. Res. 73 (1-3): 243–50.
doi:10.1023/A:1020467601966. PMID 16245127. - Portis AR, Parry
MA (October 2007). "Discoveries in Rubisco (Ribulose
1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase): a historical
perspective". Photosyn. Res. 94 (1): 121–43