Question

Why photorespiration does not take place in C₄ plants?

Answer 1

In C₄ plants photorespiration does not occur. This is because they have a mechanism that increases the concentration of CO₂ at the enzyme site. This takes place when the C₄ acid from the mesophyll is broken down in the bundle sheath cells to release CO₂ – this results in increasing the intracellular concentration of CO₂. In turn, this ensures that the RuBisCO functions as a carboxylase minimising the oxygenase activity.