RuBisCO chaperone RbcX

UniProtKB accession:  Q44177

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UniProtKB description:  An RbcL-specific chaperone. Required for assembly of the RbcL8 core, acting downstream of the major chaperonin (GroEL-GroES). Acts on newly folded RbcL, has a transient dynamic interaction with RbcL and is eventually displaced by RbcS (PubMed:17574029). The central cleft of the RbcX homodimer (RbcX2) binds the C-terminus of an RbcL monomer, stabilizing the C-terminus and probably preventing its reassociation with chaperonin GroEL-ES. At the same time the peripheral region of RbcX2 binds a second RbcL monomer, bridging the RbcL homodimers in the correct orientation. The RbcX2(2)-bound RbcL dimers then assemble into the RbcL8 core (RbcL8-(RbcX2)8). RbcS binding triggers the release of RbcX2 (By similarity). Required for optimal reconstitution of RuBisCO into its RbcL8S8 holoenzyme form upon expression of rbcL-rbcS subunits in E.coli, and probably also in situ. A frameshift mutation that replaces half the protein reduces accumulation of both RbcL and RbcS subunits and halves activity of RuBisCO in situ and in E.coli (PubMed:15564522).