African Journal of
Biotechnology

  • Abbreviation: Afr. J. Biotechnol.
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1684-5315
  • DOI: 10.5897/AJB
  • Start Year: 2002
  • Published Articles: 12487

Review

Rubisco activity and gene expression of tropical tree species under light stress

Keum-Ah Lee1, Seong Han Lee2 and Su Young Woo2*
1Department of Ecology, Lincoln University, PO BOX 85084, Lincoln, Cantebury, 7647, New Zealand. 2Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Seoul, Seoul, 130-743,Republic of Korea.  
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 16 November 2012
  •  Published: 15 May 2013

Abstract

Tropical rain forests contain an ecologically and physiologically diverse range of vegetation and habitats. Sun-acclimated plants can be divided into two groups, shade-tolerant and shade-intolerant, according to the plant’s physiological and genetic responses. Some tropical species have potential capacity for light damage in a shaded environment as well as shade-tolerance to compensate for the impaired light harvesting complex. In particular, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is regulated by the Calvin cycle, which participated in protein synthesis.Rubisco plays a role in COfixation, which helps supply the energy to regulate Rubisco for ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) reduction. Light intensity is associated with the photosynthetic rate and genetic response to moderate growth environments.

 

Key words: Gene expression, growth, light intensity, Rubisco activity.