Carbon dioxide fixation by immobilized chloroplasts

Abstract
Chloroplasts of chinese mustard (Brassica campestris L.) were immobilized in polyacrylamide gel. A 8% polymer concentration was suitable for the immobilization. The activity of the carbon dioxide fixation of immobilized chloroplasts was 65% of that of free chloroplasts. The optimum conditions for the carbon dioxide fixation of immobilized chloroplasts were similar to that of native chloroplasts. However, immobilized chloroplasts were more stable under alkaline conditions and high temperatures than native chloroplasts. Light penetration of the gel was not a limiting parameter of the carbon dioxide fixation. The lifetime of immobilized chloroplasts was three times longer than that of free chloroplasts. 3‐Phosphoglyceraldehyde and other compounds were produced continuously by immobilized chloroplasts.