C4 and CAM PATHWAY

IMRAN AZAM
BS BOTANY 7TH SEMESTER
 INTRODUCTION

 The C4 cycle known as HACTCH-SLACK

CYCLE is a pathway of carbon fixation
in plants that occurs in mesophyll cells
and bundle-sheath cells.
 C4 PLANTS
 The plant whos first
product of photosynthesis is
4 carbon compound is
called C4 PLANTS.
PLANT USE C4 MECHANISM
 Some plants which live in drought , at high
temperature, nitrogen and CO2 limited
environment, use C4 cycle.
 C4 plant fix more CO2 then C3 plant due to kranz
anatomy.
 C4 avoid photo respiration process.
 KRANTZ ANATOMY
 There vascular bundles are
surrounded by two rings of
cells.
 Inner ring
Contain bundle sheet
cells (contain starch rich
chloroplast lacking grana).
 Outer ring
Mesophyll cells.
ADVANTAGES OF KRANZ ANATOMY

 The main function of kranz

anatomy to provide a site in
which CO2 concentrated
around rubisco and avoiding
photorespiration
mechanism.
 PLANTS PERFORMING C4
CYCLE
 Crassulacian family
perform C4 cycle.
 Following plants show
C4 cycle.
i. Corn
ii. Sugar cane
iii. Cabbage
MECHANISM
 STEP 1
CONVERSION OF PEP INTO OXALOACETIC
ACID
 In this step CO2 react with
phosphoenol pyruvic acid to CO2 + PEP + H2O
form oxaloacetic acid. phosphoenol
 This reaction take place in pyruvate

presence of enzyme carboxylase

phosphoenol pyruvate
carboxylase.
oxaloacetic acid
 STEP 2
CONVERSION OF OAA INTO MALATE

 Oxaloacetic acid is
Oxaloacetic acid
converted into malate.
 This reaction is Malate
catalyzed by malate dehydrogenase
dehydrogenaze.
Malate
 STEP 3
CONVERSION OF MALATE INTO PYRUVIC ACID

 Malate is transported into

bundle sheath cells . Malate
 In bundle sheath cell it is
converted into pyruvic
acid by realasing CO2.
Pyruvic acid + CO2
 STEP 4
CONVERSION OF PYRUVIC ACID INTO
PEP
Pyruvic acid + PEP
 Pyruvic acid react with
ATP and regenerate
Pyruvate
phosphoenol pyruvate.
Orthophosphate
 This reaction take place dikinase
in presence of pyruvate
orthophosphate Phosphoenol pyruvate
dikinase.
 HOW C4 PLANTS DIFFER
FROM C3 PLANT
 C4 PLANTS ARE SPECIAL
• They have special type of leaf antomy.
• They tolerate higher temperature.
• They show a response to high light intensity.
• The lack photorespirstion process.
• They have greater productivity of biomass.
CAM PATHWAY
 DEFINITION
 It is a carbon fixation pathway present in some
plants.
 Also known as CAM PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
 These plant fix CO2 during night, storing it as 4
carbon acid malate.
 CO2 is release during day, where it is
concentrated around enzyme rubisco, increasing
efficiency of phorosynthesis.
PROCESS OF CAM
 NIGHT PROCESS
 When the stomata open, the CO2 is absorb into the
cell.
 The PEP carboxylase, carbon dioxide in fixing-
enzyme react with CO2 to produce malate, the
organic acid will stored in vacuole of the cell in low
concentration.
 The malate will go trough Calvin cycle during the
day because the Calvin cycle cannot operate during
the night while it still need ATP and NADPH.
 DAY PROCESS
 During day process, its prevent the loss of water
vapour in the plant, the stomata is closed.
 Then, the malate is release from the vacuole
because high concentration inside and break down
into CO2.
 The CO2 reacts with the RuBP( ribulose
bisphosphate) and went trough the standard
Calvin cycle.
 The sugar were produced
 BENEFITS OF CAM
 Prevent the evapotranspiration , water loss during
tranpiration.
 Increased water efficiency & time of produce
sugar in same time.
 Adaption of the survival in arid environment.
 Retain the water concentration due closing
stomata in hot condition.
 DIFFERENCES
C4 CYCLE CAM PATHWAY
 Mesophytic plant.  Xerophytic plant.
 12NADPH and 18ATP  12NADPH and 39ATP
are need for glucose are needed for glucose
production. production.
 Occur in mesophyll  Occur in mesophyll
and bundle sheath cell. cell.
 Kranz anatomy is  Kranz anatomy is
absent. present.
THANK YOU