Mutations altering the catalytic activity of a plant-type ribulose biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in Alcaligenes eutrophus.

Use of a bacterial system has allowed the isolation of several mutationally altered species of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase having a wide range of catalytic activities. Biochemical and serological techniques were used to classify the mutant strains into three groups: (1) no detectable ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase protein present (both subunits missing); (2) mutant strains having ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenases with lowered specific activities; and (3) mutant strains producing large quantities of catalytically inactive ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase.