NEETBotanyPhotosynthesis in Higher Plants
What is ensured by the release of CO2 in the bundle sheath cells of C4 plants?
Options
- AIncreased oxygenase activity
- BRuBisCO functions as a carboxylase
- CDecreased temperature tolerance
- DIncreased photorespiration
Correct answer
B. RuBisCO functions as a carboxylase
Step-by-step solution
In C4 plants photorespiration does not occur. This is because they have a mechanism that increases the concentration of CO2 at the enzyme site. This takes place when the C4 acid from the mesophyll is broken down in the bundle sheath cells to release CO2 – this results in increasing the intracellular concentration of CO2 . In turn, this ensures that the RuBisCO functions as a carboxylase minimising the oxygenase activity. Now that you know that the C4 plants lack photorespiration, you probably can understand why pro