Which of the following statements regarding photorespiration are true...
Photorespiration uses as much ATP as photosynthesis, but results in no energy gains for the plant and has carbon dioxide as a lost by-product. If carbon dioxide is abundantly available, rubisco acts as a carboxylase rather than an oxygenase.
Which of the following statements regarding photorespiration are true...
Photorespiration
Photorespiration is a metabolic pathway that occurs in plants when there is a high concentration of oxygen and a low concentration of carbon dioxide in the leaf cells. It is a wasteful process that occurs alongside photosynthesis and competes with it for the same substrate, leading to reduced efficiency in carbon fixation.
Statement a) Photorespiration is a metabolically expensive pathway.
This statement is true. Photorespiration is considered to be a metabolically expensive pathway because it consumes energy, in the form of ATP, and reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis. The process involves multiple enzymatic reactions and consumes energy without producing any useful products.
Statement b) Photorespiration is avoided when carbon dioxide is abundant.
This statement is true. Photorespiration is avoided when carbon dioxide is abundant because it is a competitive process that occurs when the concentration of oxygen is higher than that of carbon dioxide. When there is an ample supply of carbon dioxide, the concentration gradient favors the entry of carbon dioxide into the leaf cells, reducing the likelihood of photorespiration.
Statement c) Photorespiration results in a loss of usable carbon dioxide.
This statement is true. During photorespiration, the enzyme Rubisco, responsible for fixing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, reacts with oxygen instead. This results in the production of a toxic compound, phosphoglycolate, that needs to be converted into a usable form by a series of enzymatic reactions. As a result, carbon dioxide is lost and cannot be used for the synthesis of carbohydrates.
Conclusion
In conclusion, all the statements regarding photorespiration are true. Photorespiration is indeed a metabolically expensive pathway, it is avoided when carbon dioxide is abundant, and it leads to a loss of usable carbon dioxide. These factors contribute to the reduced efficiency of photosynthesis and the overall productivity of plants.
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