In: Biology
Describe photorespiration and its relationship to the C4 pathway.
Photorepiration is the process which occurs due to presence of more oxygen around the RUBSICO enzyme. This leads to low CO2 concentration around the RUBISCO enzyme. That's why oxygenation of RuBP ( ribulose-1,5- bidphosphate occurs. This produces one molecules of 2- phosphoglycolate and one molecule of 3- Phosphoglycerate from the RuBP. The 3- phosphoglycerate undergoes Calvin cycle. Wheread the 2- phosphoglycolate undergoes glycolate pathway.
Please look in image for photorespiration:
Please look in image for C4 pathway:
As you see that the Calvin cycle occurs in the bundle sheath cell in C4 pathway. And there is found large concentration of CO2 because of Malate decarboxylation. Hence there is not found oxygen concentration around RUBISCO. That's why the oxygenation of RuBP does not occur. That's why Photorespiration is not found in C4 pathway.