NEETBotanyPhotosynthesis in Higher Plants
Which enzyme is responsible for the fixation of CO2 in the mesophyll cells of C4 plants?
Options
- ARuBP carboxylase
- BRuBisCO
- CPEP carboxylase (PEPcase)
- DNADP+ reductase
Correct answer
C. PEP carboxylase (PEPcase)
Step-by-step solution
The pathway in C4 plants that has been named the Hatch and Slack Pathway, is again a cyclic process. The primary CO2 acceptor is a 3-carbon molecule phosphoenol pyruvate (PEP) and is present in the mesophyll cells. The enzyme responsible for this fixation is PEP carboxylase or PEPcase. It is important to register that the mesophyll cells lack RuBisCO enzyme. The C4 acid OAA is formed in the mesophyll cells. It then forms other 4-carbon compounds like malic acid or aspartic acid in the mesophyll cells itself, which