Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO) is an enzyme that is abundantly found in plants’ leaves. In fact, RuBisCO is considered as the most abundant protein on earth, and it accounts 50% of soluble leaf proteins in C3 plants and 30% of soluble leaf protein in C4 plants. This paper aims at discussing RuBisCO’s functions, its importance, why it is considered as the most important enzyme on earth, and it’s relation to the food chains that depend on it.
RuBisCO’s primary function occurs during the Calvin Cycle when the process of photosynthesis. The enzyme catalyzes the reaction in which Carbon Dioxide combines with Ribulose Bisphosphate (RuBP) to create energy-rich molecules such as glucose.
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The enzyme’s importance in a plant's life is vital. It enables carbon fixation, taking the Carbon Dioxide found in the atmosphere and incorporating it into molecules. Most life forms would not be possible without RuBisCO’s functions since the lives depend on organisms that can spawn biomass from the atmosphere for food. Additionally, the enzyme helps in regulating the environment. This is by helping plants to absorb the atmospheric Carbon Dioxide and breaking it into sugar molecules which in turn supports the continuation of life.
RuBisCo is probably one of the most important enzymes for the survival of all life forms on earth. Without carbon fixation, no carbon-based life would be possible. The enzyme is present in every photosynthetic organism, from the smallest to the largest. Its products support every form of life, and without it, life would not be possible since there would be no food to support existence.
RuBisCo connects to the food chains that we depend on in several ways. Firstly, the enzyme helps produce molecules that a plant's cell requires to grow or survive. The plant's survival relies on the enzymes functions. Secondly, these plants provide food for animals and other organisms that feed on plants. Additional when plants, animals, and organisms die they decompose and provide food for microorganisms found in the food chain.
