Rubisco (Ribulose-1.5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) antibodies are essential tools in plant biology research, targeting the most abundant enzyme on Earth. Rubisco catalyzes the fixation of atmospheric CO₂ into organic molecules during photosynthesis, playing a central role in the Calvin-Benson cycle. Due to its critical function and high abundance in plant tissues (particularly in chloroplasts), Rubisco is often used as a marker protein in studies of plant physiology, stress responses, and photosynthetic efficiency.
Antibodies against Rubisco are widely employed to detect and quantify the enzyme in various applications, including Western blotting, immunolocalization, and transgenic plant analysis. They help researchers assess Rubisco expression levels under different environmental conditions (e.g., light, temperature, or nutrient stress) or in genetically modified plants. These antibodies typically target conserved regions of the large subunit (RbcL, encoded by chloroplast DNA) or the small subunit (RbcS, encoded by nuclear DNA), enabling species-specific or cross-reactive detection.
Commercial Rubisco antibodies are often raised in rabbits or mice using purified plant Rubisco as an antigen. However, challenges include potential cross-reactivity with Rubisco isoforms from non-target species or unintended protein interactions. Validated antibodies with high specificity are crucial, as Rubisco’s abundance can dominate protein extracts, complicating analyses of low-abundance proteins. Beyond basic research, Rubisco antibodies also support agricultural and ecological studies aimed at optimizing crop productivity or understanding plant adaptations to climate change.