Question

Do both C₃ and C₄ plants have RuBisCO?

Answer 1

RuBisCO (Ribulose bisphosphate Carboxylase-Oxygenase):

1. It is present in plants, photosynthetic protists, algae, and autotrophic bacteria (proteobacteria, cyanobacteria, etc).
2. It is the most abundant protein in the biosphere.
3. It is found in both C₃ and C₄ plants and accounts for 50% & 30% of the total soluble leaf protein, respectively.
4. In C₄ plants, it is present in bundle sheath cells, and in C₃ plants, it is present in mesophyll cells.
5. Primary role- in photosynthesis and photorespiration.