Carbon dioxide fixation

and Carbohydrtae
synthesis By
Ida Nancy K
II year
Int. Msc Life sciences
The school of life sciences
 Contents
CARBON DIOXIDE FIXATION
CARBON FIXATION PROCESS
CARBON FIXATION IN C3 PLANTS
CARBON FIXATION IN C4 PLANTS
CARBON FIXATION IN CAM PLANTS
Carbon Fixation Definition
“Carbon fixation is the process by
which plants fix atmospheric
carbon to form organic
compounds.”
Photosynthesis is the main
process of carbon fixation. Carbon
fixation occurs in the dark reaction
or light-independent reaction of
the photosynthesis process.

The process of carbon fixation

slightly differs in C3, C4, and CAM
plants but the Calvin Cycle or C3
pathway is the main biosynthetic
pathway of carbon fixation.
 C3, C4, and CAM plants
• Photorespiration is a wasteful pathway that occurs when the Calvin cycle
enzyme rubisco acts on oxygen rather than carbon dioxide.
• The majority of plants are C3​ plants, which have no special features to
combat photorespiration.
• C4 ​plants minimize photorespiration by separating CO2​fixation and the
Calvin cycle in space, performing these steps in different cell types.
• Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants minimize photorespiration
and save water by separating these steps in time, between night and day.
 Carbon fixation in C3 plants
● Carbon fixation in C3 plants occurs in the dark reaction or light-independent
reaction of photosynthesis. It is also known as the Calvin Cycle.
● Calvin cycle occurs in all the plants, be it C 3, C4, CAM or any other plants.
• It occurs in the stroma of chloroplasts
• The first product of carbon dioxide fixation is 3 carbon compound known as 3-
phosphoglyceric acid or PGA
• CO2 acceptor is a 5 carbon compound ribulose biphosphate or RUBP
 Three main steps in Calvin cycle
• Calvin cycle has three main steps:
• Carboxylation – In this process CO2 fixation takes place. Enzyme RUBP carboxylase
oxygenase or RuBisCO catalyses the carboxylation of RUBP to form PGA.
• Reduction – Formation of carbohydrate or glucose takes place by reduction. ATP and
NADPH formed during light reaction are used in the process. 2 ATP and 2 NADPH are
used per cycle.
• Regeneration – Regeneration of RUBP is an important step for the cycle to continue, 1
ATP molecule is used for phosphorylation.
• One molecule of glucose requires 6 cycle repetition, hence in total 6CO 2, 18ATP and
12NADPH are utilized in 6 Calvin cycles to form one glucose.
 Carbon fixation in C4 plants
● Carbon Fixation in C4 Plants

● C4 pathway of carbon fixation is adapted by plants found in a dry tropical

region, e.g. maize, sorghum, etc.
● C3 and C4 pathway differ in the first product of carbon fixation. In C 3 plants, 3
carbon compound 3-phosphogyceric acid (PGA) is produced, whereas, in
C4 plants, 4 carbon compound oxaloacetic acid (OAA) is produced.
● In C4 plants also C3 pathway is used in the formation of a glucose molecule

• C4 plants have Kranz anatomy in leaves to tolerate high temperature. Large

bundle sheath cells are present around vascular bundles of leaves
• Bundle sheath cells have thick walls, no intercellular spaces and have large
chloroplasts
• Carbon fixation occurs in mesophyll cells
• CO2 acceptor is a 3 carbon compound phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP)
• The enzyme PEP carboxylase (PEPcase) catalyses the reaction. Mesophyll cell
lack RuBisCO
• The first product of carbon dioxide fixation is 4 carbon compound OAA
• OAA is then converted to other 4C acids like malic acid and aspartic acid. They
are transported to bundle sheath cells
• By decarboxylation in bundle sheath cells, CO2 is released, which enters Calvin
cycle
• The 3-carbon acid is transported back to mesophyll cells
• The bundle sheath cells have RuBisCO but lack PEP case
 Carbon fixation in CAM plants
● Carbon Fixation in CAM Plants
● CAM pathway of carbon fixation or Crassulacean acid metabolism is present
in plants present in arid conditions, e.g. cactus.
● In the CAM pathway, plants take CO2 during the night through the stomatal
opening. It is converted to malic acid (4 carbon compound) and stored in
vacuoles. During the daytime, malic acid is transported to chloroplast and
CO2 is released, which enters the Calvin cycle
TYPE SEPARATION OF INITIAL CARBON STOMATA BEST ADAPTED
DIOXIDE FIXATION AND CALVIN OPEN TO
CYCLE
C3 No separation Day Cool, wet ,
environments

C4 Between mesophyll and bundle sheath Day Hot sunny

cells (in space) environments

CAM Between night and day(in time) Night Very hot, dry
environments
 REFERENCE
www.byjus.com
www.Khanacademy.com
THANK YOU