Alternative mechanisms of carbon fixation:

Evolved in hot and dry climates

Hot and dry days, stomata close
o Conserve water
o Decrease gas exchange
Result:
o CO2 levels
o O2
o O2/CO2 ration
o Rubisco adds O2 to RuBP
Does not produce sugar
Decreases photosynthesis
Called Photorespiration = BAD
Alternative modes of carbon fixation minimize photorespiration.

1. C4 plants (Fig 10.20, 10.21 a))

Spatial separation of steps:
A. Cytoplasm of mesophyll cells
Co2 is fixed into a 4 carbon compound

CO2
+
phosphoenolpyruvate(PEP) (3 carbons)
PEP carboxylase very
high affinity for CO2
Oxaloacetate (4 carbons)
Malate (4 carbons)

Reduces Co2 in cells

Forcing more CO2 to enter by diffusion

B. 4C compound pumped into bundle-sheath cells

Chloroplast are present
Co2 released
Keeps Co2 levels high
o Calvin cycle occurs
o Rubisco accepts Co2 and not O2
2. CAM (crassulacean acid metabolism) Plants (Fig.10.21b)
Stomata open during the night
o CO2 fixation into malate stored in vacuoles
Stomata closed during the day
o Malate releases CO2

CELLULAR RESPIRATION (CHAP 9)

Process by which cells extract and use the energy contained in organic compound
(Fig9.2)
Overall process
Oxidation (loss of e-)
Organic compounds +O2 CO2 +H2O +energy
Example:
C6H12O6 +6 O2 6CO2 +6 H2O + energy (ATP +heat)

Energy released as e- go from organic compounds O2

Oxidation: C6H12O6 CO2

Reduction: 6O26 H2O

Reducing agent: glucose

Oxidizing agent: oxygen

Electron shuttles:
NADH & FADH2
High
Energy

glucose
(e- and H+)
NAD+ NADH (Fig. 9.4)
Or
FAD FADH2
e- transport chain (ETC) (Fig. 9.5)
O2

Low
Energy

H2O

Cellular respiration (Fig 9.6)

3 stages:
1. Glycolysis
Cytoplasm
glucose 2 x pyruvate (3 carbons) + 2 ATP + 2NADH
Pyruvate acetyl CoA (2 carbons) +CO2 + NADH per glucose 2 acetyl CoA
+2 CO2 +2 NADH