PEP carboxylasea)is involved in at least some CO2 fixation in both C3 ...
Explanation:
PEP carboxylase is an enzyme involved in the carbon fixation pathway in plants. Its role in CO2 fixation is different in C3 and C4 plants.
Efficiency of CO2 fixation
PEP carboxylase is capable of fixing CO2 more efficiently at lower atmospheric CO2 concentration than RuBP carboxylase. This is because PEP carboxylase has a higher affinity for CO2 than RuBP carboxylase. This property makes PEP carboxylase more efficient in fixing CO2 under conditions of low atmospheric CO2 concentration.
Role in C3 and C4 plants
PEP carboxylase is involved in at least some CO2 fixation in both C3 and C4 plants. In C4 plants, PEP carboxylase catalyzes the fixation of CO2 in mesophyll cells to form oxaloacetate. Oxaloacetate is then converted to malate and transported to bundle sheath cells where malate is decarboxylated to release CO2 for the Calvin cycle. In contrast, in C3 plants, RuBP carboxylase catalyzes the fixation of CO2 in mesophyll cells.
Location of CO2 fixation
PEP carboxylase catalyses the reaction fixing CO2 into pyruvic acid in bundle sheath cells. This is a characteristic of C4 plants, where bundle sheath cells are specialized for the Calvin cycle.
Abundance of enzyme
PEP carboxylase is not the most abundant enzyme in the world. However, it is an important enzyme involved in the carbon fixation pathway in plants.
In summary, PEP carboxylase is an enzyme that plays an important role in CO2 fixation in plants. Its efficiency in fixing CO2 and its location of action make it an important enzyme in C4 plants.
PEP carboxylasea)is involved in at least some CO2 fixation in both C3 ...
PEP carboxylase is more efficient than RUBISCO because PEP Carboxylase is a specific enzyme for carboxylation. But if carbon dioxide conc. becomes lower than oxygen conc., RUBISCO will perform oxygenase activity. It will lead to a wasteful process known as photorespiration which consumes ATP and release carbon dioxide. But even in low carbon dioxide conditions PEP carboxylase can perform its function efficiently.
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