Summary
An overview is presented of the principal mechanisms and regulatory processes involved in the acquisition of CO2 by plants. Central to all these mechanisms is the Calvin-cycle and Rubisco, with its dual function as a carboxylase and as an oxygenase, catalyzing the first reaction in the phenomenon of photorespiration. The losses of carbon in photorespiration and the low levels of CO2 in some habitats have led to the development of CO2-concentrating mechanisms, such as those found in aquatic organisms and in C4 and CAM plants. Once CO2 is fixed into triose-P, it can then be utilized to make carbohydrates for processes such as storage and export, or used to fuel respiration and biosynthesis in the plant. The use of genetic manipulation to further our understanding of photosynthetic carbon metabolism is discussed.
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Leegood, R.C., Sharkey, T.D., von Caemmerer, S. (2000). Introduction. In: Leegood, R.C., Sharkey, T.D., von Caemmerer, S. (eds) Photosynthesis. Advances in Photosynthesis and Respiration, vol 9. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48137-5_1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/0-306-48137-5_1
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