Photosynthesis:
Variations on the Theme
AP Biology 2006-2007
Remember what plants need…
Photosynthesis
light reactions
light sun
H2O ground
Calvin cycle
CO2 air
What structures have
plants evolved to
APsupply
Biology these needs?
vascular bundle
Leaf Structure xylem (water)
cuticle phloem (sugar)
epidermis
palisades
layer
O2 H O
spongy 2
CO2
layer
stomate guard
cell
Transpiration
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O2 H 2O CO2
A second inside a leaf…
Gas exchange & water flow
CO2 in for Calvin cycle
O2 out waste from light reactions
H2O out for light reactions
photosynthesis
xylem
(water)
O2 CO
2 phloem
(sugars)
gas exchange
water loss
AP Biology H2O O2 CO2
Controlling water loss from leaves
Hot or dry days
stomates close to conserve water
guard cells
gain H2O = stomates open
lose H2O = stomates close
adaptation to
living on land,
but…
creates PROBLEMS!
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Closed stomates
Closed stomates lead to…
O2 builds up from light reactions
CO2 is depleted in Calvin cycle
causes problems in Calvin Cycle
The best laid
schemes of
mice and men…
and plants!
AP Biology
Inefficiency of Rubisco: CO2 vs O2
Rubisco in Calvin cycle
carbon fixation enzyme
normally bonds C to RuBP
photosynthesis
reduction of RuBP
building sugars
when O2 concentration is high
Rubisco bonds O to RuBP
O2 is alternative substrate
photorespiration
oxidation of RuBP
breakdown sugars
AP Biology
Calvin cycle review
1C CO2
RuBP
5C Rubisco
unstable
ATP 6C intermediate
G3P ADP
to make
glucose
PGA
3C
G3P 3C
NADPH ATP
NADP ADP
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3C
Calvin cycle review
1C CO2
RuBP
5C Rubisco
G3P
to make
glucose
PGA
3C
G3P 3C
C3 plants
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to
mitochondria
Calvin cycle with O2 –––––––
lost as CO2
O2 without
making ATP
RuBP
5C Rubisco
2C
3C
A good enzyme,
gone BAD! photorespiration
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Impact of Photorespiration
Oxidation of RuBP
short circuit of Calvin cycle
loss of carbons to CO2
can lose 50% of carbons fixed by Calvin cycle
reduces production of photosynthesis
no ATP (energy) produced
no C6H12O6 (food) produced
if photorespiration could be reduced,
plant would become 50% more efficient
strong selection pressure to evolve
alternative systems
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Reducing photorespiration
Separate carbon fixation from Calvin cycle
C4 plants
physically separate carbon fixation from actual
Calvin cycle
different enzyme to capture CO2
PEP carboxylase stores carbon in 4C compounds
different leaf structure
CAM plants
separate carbon fixation from actual Calvin cycle
by time of day
fix carbon (capture CO2) during night
store carbon in organic acids
perform Calvin cycle during day
AP Biology
C4 plants
A better way to capture CO2
1st step before Calvin cycle,
fix carbon with enzyme
PEP carboxylase
store as 4C compound
adaptation to hot,
dry climates
have to close stomates a lot
different leaf anatomy
sugar cane, corn,
other grasses…
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C4 Plants
AP Biology corn sugar cane
O2
PEP carboxylase light reactions
PEP carboxylase enzyme
higher affinity for CO2 than
O2 (better than Rubisco)
fixes CO2 in 4C compounds
regenerates CO2 in inner
cells for Rubisco
AP Biology
phosphoenolpyruvate (3C) + CO2 oxaloacetate (4C)
Location,
Comparative anatomy location,
location!
Separate reactions in different cells
light reactions
carbon fixation
Calvin cycle
C3 C4
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C4 photosynthesis
Physically separated C fixation from Calvin cycle
Outer cells
light reaction &
carbon fixation
pumps CO2 to inner
cells
keeps O2 away from
inner cells
away from Rubisco
CO2 Inner cells
O2 O2 CO2 Calvin cycle
glucose to veins
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CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) plants
Different adaptation to hot, dry climates
separate carbon fixation from Calvin cycle by time
close stomates during day
open stomates during night
at night, open stomates & fix
It’s all in
carbon in “storage” compounds the timing!
organic acids: malic acid, isocitric acid
in day, close stomates & release CO2 from
“storage” compounds to Calvin cycle
increases concentration of CO2 in cells
succulents, some cacti, pineapple
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CAM plants
AP Biology
C4 vs CAM Summary
solves CO2 / O2 gas exchange vs. H2O loss challenge
C4 plants CAM plants
separate 2 steps separate 2 steps
of C fixation of C fixation
anatomically in temporally at
2 different cells 2 different times
AP Biology
We’ve all got
Why the C3 problem? baggage!
Possibly evolutionary baggage
Rubisco evolved in high CO2 atmosphere
there wasn’t strong selection against active site of
Rubisco accepting both CO2 & O2
Today it makes a difference
21% O2 vs. 0.03% CO2
photorespiration can drain away 50% of carbon
fixed by Calvin cycle on a hot, dry day
strong selection pressure to evolve better way
to fix carbon & minimize photorespiration
AP Biology
Any Questions??
AP Biology 2006-2007
