Rubisco (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase)

Definition

Rubisco is an enzyme involved in the first major step of carbon fixation; it catalyzes the conversion of carbon dioxide and ribulose bisphosphate into an unstable 6-carbon intermediate that immediately splits into two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate.

Related terms

Carbon Fixation:

The process by which photosynthetic organisms such as plants turn inorganic carbon dioxide into organic compounds.

Photosynthesis:

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the aid of chlorophyll pigments.

Enzyme:

A substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction.