What is the difference between c3 and c4 plants

Question

anonymous · Answer

do you have a picture or options

anonymous · Answer

$C_3$ and $C_4$ refer to the modes of photosynthesis that is carried out in the respective plant types. $C_3$ photosynthesis is centered around the fixation of a 3-carbon compound. Meanwhile $C_4$ photosynthesis uses a 4-carbon intermediate.

In $C_3$ plants, the enzyme Rubisco is located in the same cell that fixes the incoming carbon, while $C_4$ plants transport the fixed carbon (in the form of the 4-C intermediate) to an adjacent cell that contains the enzyme. This facilitates the uptake of carbon compounds by Rubisco which reduces the occurrence of photorespiration (uptake of oxygen).