Nisbet, E. G., Nisbet, R. E. R. and Fowler, C.M.R. (2012) The regulation of the air: a hypothesis. Solid Earth, 3 (1).
Full text access: Open
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This is a Approved version This version's date is: 12/3/2012 This item is not peer reviewed
https://repository.royalholloway.ac.uk/items/28a094c3-095d-cafa-8c8c-fd301c5a153c/5/
Deposited by Research Information System (atira) on 18-Mar-2013 in Royal Holloway Research Online.Last modified on 18-Mar-2013