Effects of proline and betaine on heat inactivation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in crude extracts of rice seedlings

Abstract

Activity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCO) in heated crude extracts from seedlings of the rice cultivars Hitomebore and IR28 was investigated in the presence of proline and betaine. Both solutes retarded the inactivation of the enzyme extracted from the leaves of both cultivars at temperature-stress from 35 to 45 °C. At 50 °C, however, betaine was effective in both cultivars. Stabilization of RuBPCO activity was independent of the added solute from 1 to 2 M concentration.