Red algal Rubisco fails to accumulate in tobacco expressing Griffithsia monilis RbcL and RbcS genes (Plant Direct)

Following up on earlier studies in which they introduced cyanobacterial Rubisco into tobacco, Lin and Hanson endeavoured to introduce into tobacco Rubisco genes from a red alga, which has an unusually high CO₂/O₂ specificity. Although they were able to demonstrate the presence of the genes and their transcription, the enzyme failed to accumulate, suggesting a need for additional factors for this Rubisco to assemble. This paper is an example of the importance of publishing sound (but perhaps disappointing) results, as these data will be useful for others trying to express distantly-related Rubiscos in plants. (Summary by Mary Williams) Plant Direct 10.1002/pld3.45