Changes in the heterogeneity of ribulosebisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase in winter rye induced by cold hardening.

The quaternary structures of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase from cold-hardened and unhardened Puma rye were examined by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis according to the method of O'Farrell. The results indicate that major changes in charge heterogeneity occur in the large subunit of this enzyme during growth at cold-hardening temperatures. The extent of charge heterogeneity decreased upon adaptation of Puma rye to cold-hardening temperatures. In addition to charge heterogeneity, molecular weight heterogeneity was also evident In the large subunit polypeptides of the enzyme from cold-hardened and unhardened Puma rye.