MeaningProcessCarbon Fixation in C3 PlantsCarbon Fixation in C4 PlantsCarbon Fixation in CAM Plants
Carbon fixation means assimilation of inorganic carbon and conversion to organic compounds, which can be used as an energy store and for the synthesis of biomolecules.
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Carbon Fixation Definition
“Carbon fixation is the process by which plants fix atmospheric carbon to form organic compounds.”
All the autotrophs, bacteria, algae and plants fix atmospheric carbon dioxide by the process of photosynthesis or chemosynthesis.
Carbon Fixation Process
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.
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 C3, 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
- 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 6CO2, 18ATP and 12NADPH are utilized in 6 Calvin cycles to form one glucose.
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 C3 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 PEPcase
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.
Also see: CAM Plants
To summarize the C3 cycle or Calvin cycle is the main pathway of carbon fixation in plants.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is carbon fixation and why is it important?
Carbon fixation is the process by which inorganic carbon from the atmosphere is assimilated into living organisms and converted into organic compounds. These compounds are used to store chemical energy. It is an essential process for the sustainability of life. Through this process, the energy in the biosphere becomes available to living organisms and helps them perform various metabolic processes. The energy thus produced gets transferred to the different trophic levels and to all the living organisms.
What happens in carbon fixation?
Carbon fixation is a biosynthetic pathway by which atmospheric carbon is converted into metabolically active organic compounds. Carbon fixation in plants during photosynthesis utilises ATP and NADPH to assimilate carbon dioxide and form carbohydrates.
What is carbon fixation in the Calvin cycle?
Calvin cycle is the dark reaction of photosynthesis. It is the biosynthetic phase where CO2 is converted into sugar. It utilises ATP and NADPH produced during the light reaction of photosynthesis. Carbon fixation is the first step in the Calvin cycle where carboxylation of RUBP results in the fixation of CO2 to stable organic intermediate.
What are the alternative pathways for carbon fixation?
Calvin cycle is the main pathway of carbon fixation in plants, algae and cyanobacteria. The alternative pathways of carbon fixation are:
- Reductive citric acid cycle – in bacteria
- 3-hydroxypropionate cycle – in bacteria and archaea
- Reductive acetyl CoA pathway – in bacteria and archaea
What are the 3 stages of Calvin cycle?
The three stages of Calvin cycle are:
- Carboxylation – It is the first step where RuBisCO catalyses the carboxylation of RUBP to form two molecules of PGA.
- Reduction – ATP and NADPH are utilised to form glucose. Phosphoglyceric acid (3PGA) is reduced to form glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P).
- Regeneration – The primary acceptor of CO2, i.e. RUBP is regenerated. ATP is utilised in this step for phosphorylation.
Does carbon fixation require light?
Carbon fixation is a dark reaction or light-independent reaction of photosynthesis. It does not require light directly but depends on the products of the light reaction of photosynthesis, i.e. ATP and NADPH.
What enzyme is responsible for carbon fixation?
Enzyme RuBisCO (Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase-oxygenase) is responsible for carbon fixation by the Calvin cycle. It catalyses the carboxylation of RUBP to form 2 molecules of 3PGA.
Related Articles:
| Difference Between C3 C4 and CAM Pathway |
| NEET Biology Flashcards – Photosynthesis in Higher Plants |
| NEET Questions – Photosynthesis in Higher Plants |
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