Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO)

RuBisCO is an essential enzyme in plants and some microorganisms that facilitates the process of photosynthesis. It helps convert carbon dioxide from the air into organic molecules used for growth and energy. Specifically, RuBisCO attaches CO₂ to a molecule called ribulose bisphosphate, forming two three-carbon compounds that eventually become sugars. It is considered the most abundant enzyme on Earth due to its vital role in capturing atmospheric carbon for life. Despite its importance, RuBisCO works slowly and can sometimes bind oxygen instead of CO₂, which can reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis.