Calvin Cycle: Understanding Rubisco Structure & Mechanism

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In summary, the conversation discusses the process of the Calvin Cycle and the controversy surrounding the conversion of ribulose bisphosphate into a 6 carbon sugar as a short-lived intermediate before being converted into phosphoglyceric acid. The speaker suggests that it would be easier to synthesize rubisco and study its structure and mechanism of action to determine the truth. They also mention that they have tried researching on Google but have not found information about the 6 carbon intermediate. The conversation ends with the suggestion to try searching for the Calvin Cycle on Google.
  • #1
PhiJ
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I have been learning about the calvin cycle, and have been told that people think that ribulose bisphosphate is first converted into a 6 carbon sugar as a very short life intermediate, and then is converted to phosphoglyceric acid.
Why can't you just synthesise rubisco, work out its structure and mechanism of action etc. and then find if that is true. I'm sure its a lot harder than I'm thinking of it being, but how much?
 
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  • #2
have you tried google?
 
  • #3
I hadn't. Now I have though, I know that they have sequenced it, but still don't know about the intermediate, surely it would be easy to find... why is it so hard?
 
  • #4
try

define: Calvin Cycle
 
  • #5
I've tried it. Couldn't see anything about the 6 carbon intermediate though.
 

FAQ: Calvin Cycle: Understanding Rubisco Structure & Mechanism

What is the Calvin Cycle?

The Calvin Cycle is a series of biochemical reactions that take place in the chloroplasts of plants and algae. It is the second stage of photosynthesis, where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose, a form of sugar that can be used by the plant for energy.

What is the role of Rubisco in the Calvin Cycle?

Rubisco, short for ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, is the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the first step of the Calvin Cycle. It combines carbon dioxide with a five-carbon sugar molecule, creating a six-carbon molecule that eventually leads to the production of glucose.

How does Rubisco contribute to the efficiency of photosynthesis?

Rubisco is considered one of the most abundant enzymes on Earth and plays a crucial role in the carbon fixation process of photosynthesis. Without Rubisco, plants would not be able to convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds, resulting in a decrease in photosynthetic efficiency and plant growth.

What is the structure of Rubisco?

Rubisco is a large, complex enzyme made up of eight large subunits and eight small subunits. The active site, where the catalytic reaction takes place, is located in the large subunits. The structure of Rubisco is highly conserved among different plant species, which suggests its importance in the photosynthetic process.

What is the mechanism of Rubisco in the Calvin Cycle?

The mechanism of Rubisco involves a two-step reaction. In the first step, carbon dioxide is added to a five-carbon sugar molecule, creating a six-carbon molecule. In the second step, this molecule is broken down into two three-carbon molecules, which are then used to produce glucose. Rubisco is also capable of binding to oxygen instead of carbon dioxide, leading to a process called photorespiration, which can reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis.

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