Rubisco

Rubisco, short for ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase, is an essential enzyme found in plants and some microorganisms. It plays a crucial role in photosynthesis, the process by which plants convert sunlight into energy. Specifically, Rubisco helps capture carbon dioxide from the air and incorporates it into organic molecules, forming the building blocks of plant life. This makes it vital for producing carbohydrates that fuel not only plants but also the animals and humans that rely on them for food. Despite its effectiveness, Rubisco is somewhat slow and can also mistakenly use oxygen, leading to inefficiencies.