Elimination of the Chlamydomonas gene family that encodes the small subunit of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

摘要

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/ oxygenase (EC 4.1.1.39) is the key photosynthetic enzyme that catalyzes the first step of CO2 fixation. The chloroplast- localized holoenzyme of plants and green algae contains eight nuclear-encoded small subunits and eight chloroplast- encoded large subunits. Although much has been learned about the enzyme active site that resides within each large subunit, it has been difficult to assess the role of eukaryotic small subunits in holoenzyme function and expression. Small subunits are coded by a family of genes, precluding genetic screening or nuclear transformation approaches for the re- covery of small-subunit mutants.