The structure of form I crystals of D-ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase

J Mol Biol. 1975 Feb 5;91(4):391-9. doi: 10.1016/0022-2836(75)90267-3.

Abstract

Single crystals of d-ribulose-1,5-diphosphate carboxylase from tobacco leaves, Nicotiana tabacum (variety Turkish Samsun), have been examined by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and optical diffraction. Twelve molecules are loosely packed into a body-centered cubic unit cell, space group 14132 with cell dimension a = 383 Å. The asymmetric unit is one quarter of a molecule, and the minimum molecular symmetry is 222. This symmetry when combined with estimates of the two subunit masses and stoichiometry is compatible with a molecular structure of the composition L8S8 (L is large subunit, S is small). If all bonds between large and small subunits are equivalent, the true molecular symmetry is 422; this symmetry is consistent with molecular images in micrographs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carboxy-Lyases*
  • Crystallization
  • Crystallography
  • Lasers
  • Microscopy, Electron
  • Nicotiana / enzymology
  • Optics and Photonics
  • Plants / enzymology
  • Plants, Toxic
  • Protein Conformation
  • Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase*
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Substances

  • Carboxy-Lyases
  • Ribulose-Bisphosphate Carboxylase