RuBisCO is an organic enzyme.
RuBisCO, or ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, is a crucial enzyme in the process of carbon fixation during photosynthesis. Its primary function is to catalyze the reaction between carbon dioxide (CO2), which is inorganic, and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP), an organic molecule. This reaction produces two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA), another organic molecule, which are then used to create glucose and other organic compounds.
Here's why RuBisCO is considered organic:
- RuBisCO is a protein: Proteins are complex organic molecules composed of amino acids, which contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, and sometimes sulfur.
- RuBisCO facilitates the creation of organic molecules: While it uses inorganic CO2, its role is to incorporate that inorganic carbon into organic molecules. The product of the reaction it catalyzes are organic compounds.
- It is synthesized by living organisms: RuBisCO is produced within plant cells and other photosynthetic organisms, making it a product of biological processes, which are inherently organic.
In summary, while RuBisCO works with inorganic carbon dioxide, the enzyme itself is an organic protein that helps create organic molecules, thus classifying it as organic.
