Question

Which part of the light-independent reactions would be affected if a cell could not produce the enzyme RuBisCO?

Short answer

No cycle could take place, if a cell could not produce the enzyme RuBisCo

Step-by-step solution

Introduction

RuBisCo is needed in the Calvin cycle's first stage, where it catalyzes the interaction of carbon dioxide with RuBP (ribulose-1, 5-biphosphate) to produce 3-phosphoglycerate. In the absence of Rubisco, the process will take a long time to complete and the rate of photosynthesis will be significantly reduced.

Explanation

RuBisCo, also known as ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase / oxygenase, is a plant cell enzyme. It serves as a carbon dioxide acceptor for the photosynthesis process.

It plays a role in the Calvin cycle, which aids in the production of glucose molecules.

This process would not have a catalyst, if RuBisCo was not formed in the plant cells.

By decreasing the activation energy required, a catalyst speeds up the process.

As a result, glucose would be generated at a very sluggish rate or, more likely, would not be created at all.

Additional Information

Light-dependent processes, which make ATP and NADPH from water and sunshine, and light-independent reactions, which produce glucose molecules by fixing atmospheric carbon dioxide, are the two types of photosynthesis reactions.

The Calvin cycle is responsible for this. It employs the rubisco enzyme, which has a strong affinity for carbon dioxide. It catalyzes the reaction of RuBP (Ribulose-1, 5-biphosphate) and CO2 to create 3-phosphoglycerate, the first step in carbon dioxide fixation.

Rubisco reduces the activation energy required to complete the reaction. The carboxylation reaction would proceed very slowly or not at all in the absence of rubisco since the activation energy for this activity is quite large.

As a result, no glucose is created, and the plant will most certainly die.