Skip to main content

Rubisco Activase Activity Assays

  • Protocol
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 684))

Abstract

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) activase functions as a mechano-chemical motor protein using the energy from ATP hydrolysis to contort the structure of its target protein, Rubisco. This action modulates the activation state of Rubisco by removing tightly-bound inhibitory sugar-phosphates from Rubisco’s catalytic sites, thereby restoring the sites to catalytic competence. This chapter reports methods developed for assaying the two activities of Rubisco activase: ATP hydrolysis and Rubisco activation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Protocol
USD   49.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Springer Nature is developing a new tool to find and evaluate Protocols. Learn more

References

  1. Spreitzer, R. J. and Salvucci, M. E. (2002) Rubisco: structure, regulatory interactions, and possibilities for a better enzyme. Annu Rev Plant Biol 53, 449–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Andrews, T. J. (1996) The bait in the Rubisco mousetrap. Nat Struct Biol 3, 3–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Portis, A. R. Jr. (2003) Rubisco activase – Rubisco’s catalytic chaperone. Photosynth Res 75, 11–27.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wang, Z. Y. and Portis, A. R. Jr. (1992) Dissociation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate bound to ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase and its enhancement by ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase-mediated hydrolysis of ATP. Plant Physiol 99, 1348–53.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Robinson, S. P. and Portis, A. R. Jr. (1989) Adenosine triphosphate hydrolysis by purified Rubisco activase. Arch Biochem Biophys 268, 93–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Salvucci, M. E., Rajagopalan, K., Sievert, G., Haley, B. E., and Watt, D. S. (1993) Photoaffinity labeling of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activase with ATP-γ-benzophenone. J Biol Chem 268, 14239–44.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Salvucci, M. E., Portis, A. R. Jr., and Ogren, W. L. (1985) A soluble chloroplast protein catalyzes ribulose-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase activation in vivo. Photosynth Res 7, 193–201.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Portis, A. R. Jr., Salvucci, M. E., and Ogren, W. L. (1986) Activation of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase at physiological CO2 and ribulosebisphosphate concentrations by Rubisco activase. Plant Physiol 82, 967–71.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Salvucci, M. E. (1992) Subunit interactions of Rubisco activase: polyethylene glycol promotes self-association, stimulates ATPase and activation activities, and enhances interactions with Rubisco. Arch Biochem Biophys 298, 688–96.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Wishnick, M. and Lane, M. D. (1971) Ribulose diphosphate carboxylase from leaves. Meth Enzymol 23, 570–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Chifflet, S., Torriglia, A., Chiesa, A., and Tolosa, S. (1988) A method for the determination of inorganic phosphate in the presence of labile organic phosphate and high concentrations of protein: application to lens ATPases. Anal Biochem 168, 1–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Crafts-Brandner, S. J. and Salvucci, M. E. (2000) Rubisco activase constrains the photosynthetic potential of leaves at high temperature and CO2. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 97, 13430–35.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Esau, B. D., Snyder, G. W., and Portis, A. R. Jr. (1996) Differential effects of N- and C-terminal deletions on the two activities of Rubisco activase. Arch Biochem Biophys 326, 100–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Sulpice, R., Tschoep, H., Von Korff, M., Bussis, D., Usadel, B., Hohne, M., Witucka-Wall, H., Altmann, T., Stitt, M., and Gibon, Y. (2007) Description and applications of a rapid and sensitive non-radioactive microplate-based assay for maximum and initial activity of D-ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. Plant Cell Environ 30, 1163–75.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Salvucci, M. E. and Ogren, W. L. (1996) The mechanism of Rubisco activase: insights from studies of the properties and structure of the enzyme. Photosynth Res 47, 1–11.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research was funded by the US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural research Service and the US Department of Energy, grant no. DE-FG02-08ER20268. Mention of a trademark, proprietary product, or vendor does not constitute a guarantee or warranty of the product by the United States Department of Agriculture and does not imply its approval to the exclusion of other products or vendors that may also be suitable.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael E. Salvucci .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this protocol

Cite this protocol

Barta, C., Carmo-Silva, A.E., Salvucci, M.E. (2011). Rubisco Activase Activity Assays. In: Carpentier, R. (eds) Photosynthesis Research Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 684. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-925-3_29

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60761-925-3_29

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-60761-924-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-60761-925-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

Publish with us

Policies and ethics