Photosynthetic Carbon Assimilation

The photosynthetic fixation of carbon dioxide into organic compounds is mediated by the enzyme ribulose 1,S-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase. The diversity of current research on this protein attests to its central role in biomass productivity, and suggests the importance of a timely and broadly based review. This Symposium was the first devoted exclusively to RuBP carboxylase and was attended by agronomists, plant physiologists, biochemists, molecular biologists, and crystallographers. Special efforts were made to involve young scientists in addition to established investigators. It is a pleasure to acknowledge financial support provided by the Department of Energy, the United States Department of Agricul­ ture, and the National Science Foundation, and the valued assistance of agency representatives, Drs. Joe Key, Robert Rabson, Elijah Romanoff, and Donald Senich. Thanks are due to Mrs. Margaret Dienes, without whose editorial skills this volume could not have been produced, and to Mrs. Helen Kondratuk as Symposium Coordinator. Finally, we wish to record our indebtedness to Dr. Alexander Hollaender for his tireless efforts in support of all aspects of this Symposium.

Contenu

Section I Introduction.- Fraction I Protein and Other Products From Tobacco for Food.- Mechanism of Action of Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase.- Magnetic Resonance Studies on Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase.- Section II Control of Carbon Assimilation.- Regulation of Photosynthetic Carbon Assimilation.- Photorespiration and the Effect of Oxygen on Photosynthesis.- In Vivo Control Mechanism of the Carboxylation Reaction.- Regulation of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase in the Chloroplast.- Biochemical and Genetic Studies of the Synthesis and Degradation of RuBP Carboxylase.- Section III Agronomic and Environmental Studies of RuBP Carboxylase.- Comparative Biochemistry of Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase in Higher Plants.- Reutilization of Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase.- A Mutational Approach to the Study of Photorespiration.- The Opportunity for and Significance of Alteration of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase Activities in Crop Production.- Section IV Structure and Function of RuBP Carboxylase.- Chemosynthetic, Photosynthetic and Cyanobacterial Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase.- Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylases From Chromatium vinosum and Rhodospirillum rubrum and Their Role in Photosynthetic Carbon Assimilation.- Active Site of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase.- Attempts to Apply Affinity Labeling Techniques to Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase.- Structural Studies of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase.- The Activation of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase.- Section V Molecular Biology of RuBP Carboxylase.- Interaction of Chloroplast and Nuclear Genomes in Regulating RuBP Carboxylase Activity.- In Vitro Synthesis, Transport, and Assembly of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase Subunits.- The Expression of the Gene for the Large Subunit of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase in Maize.- The Messenger RNAs and Genes Coding for the Small and Large Subunits of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase in Chlamydomonas reinhardi.- Catalytic Mutants of Ribulose Bisphosphate Carboxylase/Oxygenase.- Separation of Ribulose 1,5-Bisphosphate Carboxylase and Oxygenase Activities.- Round Table Discussion: Long-Range Research Planning in Carbon Assimilation.- Abstracts of Poster Discussions.- Participants in the Symposium.- Previous Symposia Sponsored by the Biology Department of Brookhaven National Laboratory.- Index of Speakers.- Index of Genera.