Nisbet, E. G., Fowler, C. M. R. and Nisbet, R. E. R. (2012) The regulation of the air: a hypothesis. Solid Earth, 3
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We propose the hypothesis that natural selec- tion, acting on the specificity or preference for CO2 over O2 of the enzyme rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate car- boxylase/oxygenase), has controlled the CO2:O2 ratio of the atmosphere since the evolution of photosynthesis and has also sustained the Earth’s greenhouse-set surface tempera- ture. Rubisco works in partnership with the nitrogen-fixing enzyme nitrogenase to control atmospheric pressure. To- gether, these two enzymes control global surface temperature and indirectly the pH and oxygenation of the ocean. Thus, the co-evolution of these two enzymes may have produced clement conditions on the Earth’s surface, allowing life to be sustained.
This is a Submitted version This version's date is: 2012 This item is not peer reviewed
https://repository.royalholloway.ac.uk/items/28a094c3-095d-cafa-8c8c-fd301c5a153c/2/
Deposited by Research Information System (atira) on 24-Jul-2012 in Royal Holloway Research Online.Last modified on 24-Jul-2012