The kinetics of conformation change as determinant of Rubisco's specificity.

The molecular basis of Rubisco's specificity is investigated in terms of the structure and kinetics of the enzyme. We propose that the rates of the conformational changes (closing/opening) of the binding niche exert a crucial influence on apparent binding rates and the enzyme's specificity. An extended reaction scheme for binding and conformational kinetics is presented and expressed in a mathematical model.