Question
Question: PEP is primary \({C}{O}_{2}\) acceptor in (a) \({C}_{4}\) (b) \({C}_{3}\) (c) \({C}_{2}\) (...
PEP is primary CO2 acceptor in
(a) C4
(b) C3
(c) C2
(d) Both C3 and C4 plants
Solution
It's one of three known processes for carbon fixation in some plants. In this, a 4-carbon compound which is called oxaloacetic acid (OAA) is the first product by carbon fixation. Plants in tropical desert regions commonly follow this pathway.
Complete answer:
In C4 plants, the initial fixation of CO2 or carboxylation takes place in mesophyll cells. The chloroplasts of mesophylls cells possess enzyme PEP carboxylase for initial fixation of CO2. The first acceptor of CO2 is phosphoenolpyruvate or PE, which is a 3-carbon molecule. It combines with CO2 within the presence of PEP carboxylase to make oxaloacetic acid or oxaloacetate (OAA) , which is a 4-carbon molecule. Eventually, it's converted into another 4-carbon compound referred to as malic acid.
Later, they're transferred from mesophyll cells to bundle sheath cells. Here, OAA is weakened to yield CO2 and a 3-C molecule. The CO2 thus formed is employed within the Calvin cycle, whereas 3-carbon molecule is transferred back to mesophyll cells for regeneration of PEP
-The majority of plants produce 3-carbon acid called 3-phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) as a primary product during CO2 fixation. Such a pathway is understood because the C3 pathway which is additionally called the Calvin cycle. -Photorespiration is known as C2 cycle. Occurs in photosynthetic organisms. It is light-dependent, where O2 is taken, and CO2 is released. In this metabolic pathway, sugars are oxidized to CO2 in the light.
So, the correct answer is ‘C4‘.
Note: Corn, sugarcane, and a few shrubs are samples of plants that follow the C4 pathway. The Calvin pathway may be a common pathway in both C3 plants and C4 plants. But this takes place only within the mesophyll cells of the C3 plants and not within the C4 plants.