Similarity of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylases of Isogenic Diploid and Tetraploid Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) Cultivars

Partially purified ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.39) was isolated from diploid and tetraploid cultivars of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) using two separate methods. The apparent K(m) (CO(2)) values for the enzymes prepared by either method did not differ significantly between diploid and tetraploid when assayed by two separate techniques. The unpurified enzymes from freshly lysed (and fully functional) protoplasts of both diploid and tetraploid cultivars gave virtually identical apparent K(m) (CO(2)) values. There was no indication of large differences in affinity for CO(2) of illuminated intact protoplasts from the two cultivars.