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Related Concept Videos

The Calvin Benson Cycle01:46

The Calvin Benson Cycle

Ribulose 1,5- bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCo) is a critical enzyme that catalyzes carbon dioxide assimilation during photosynthesis. However, it is an inefficient enzyme, having an extremely slow catalytic rate. A typical enzyme can process about a thousand molecules per second; however, RuBisCo fixes only around three-carbon dioxides per second. Photosynthetic cells compensate for this slow rate by synthesizing very high amounts of RuBisCo, making it the most abundant single...
C4 Pathway and CAM01:27

C4 Pathway and CAM

Most plants use the C3 pathway for carbon fixation. However, some plants, such as sugar cane, corn, and cacti that grow in hot conditions, use alternative pathways to fix carbon and conserve energy loss due to photorespiration. Photorespiration is the process that occurs when the oxygen concentration is high. Under such conditions, the rubisco enzyme in the Calvin cycle binds O2 instead of CO2, which halts photosynthesis and consumes energy.
C4 Pathway
The C4 pathway is used by plants such as...
The Calvin Cycle01:40

The Calvin Cycle

OverviewOxygenic photosynthesis plays a central role in the global carbon and oxygen cycles. The carbohydrates produced support nearly all food webs, while the oxygen by‑product enables aerobic life.Light‑dependent and light‑independent reactionsPhotosynthesis occurs in two main stages, each in a different part of the chloroplast: light‑dependent reactions and light‑independent reactions, also called the Calvin‑Benson cycle or simply the Calvin cycle.Light‑dependent reactions take place in the...
Photosystems01:32

Photosystems

Photosystems are multiprotein complexes that form the functional units of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. They are found embedded in the membrane of tiny sac-like structures called thylakoids placed inside the chloroplast.
Functioning of Photosystems
Photosystems contain many pigment molecules, such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, arranged in a particular organization across two domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...
Photosystem II01:22

Photosystem II

The multi-protein complex photosystem II (PS II) harvests photons and transfers their energy through its bound pigments to its reaction center, and ultimately to photosystem I (PSI) through the electron transport chain. The pigments responsible for caputirng the light energy in photosystems include chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids.
The pigment molecules are arranged across  two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...
What is Photosynthesis?00:39

What is Photosynthesis?

Photosynthesis is a multipart, biochemical process that occurs in plants as well as in some bacteria. It captures carbon dioxide and solar energy to produce glucose. Glucose stores chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates. The overall biochemical formula of photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2. Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere and is largely responsible for maintaining the Earth’s atmospheric oxygen content.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis
10:46

Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis

Published on: December 9, 2022

Carbon partitioning in photosynthesis.

Anastasios Melis1

  • 1University of California, Department of Plant & Microbial Biology, Berkeley, CA 94720-3102, USA. melis@berkeley.edu

Current Opinion in Chemical Biology
|April 2, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Scientists aim to improve renewable fuel and chemical production by understanding how photosynthetic organisms control carbon flow. New methods are needed to redirect carbon away from sugars toward valuable hydrocarbons.

Area of Science:

  • Synthetic biology
  • Photosynthetic carbon metabolism
  • Renewable fuels and chemicals

Background:

  • Cellular carbon partitioning is critical for renewable fuel and chemical production.
  • The regulation of carbon partitioning in photosynthesis remains poorly understood.
  • Current methods lack control over carbon flow in photosynthetic organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the challenge of endogenous carbon partitioning in (photo)synthetic biology.
  • To emphasize the need for methods to redirect photosynthetic carbon.
  • To improve the production of terpenoid and fatty acid hydrocarbons.

Main Methods:

  • Investigating endogenous cellular carbon partitioning.
  • Analyzing regulatory mechanisms in plants, microalgae, and cyanobacteria.

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Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections
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Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections

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Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting
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Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting

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Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis
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Evaluation of Photosynthetic Efficiency in Photorespiratory Mutants by Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analysis

Published on: December 9, 2022

Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections
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Assessing Structural Traits in Triticum aestivum and Zea mays for C3 and C4 Photosynthetic Differentiation Using Free-hand and Semi-thin Sections

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Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting
08:40

Separation of Spinach Thylakoid Protein Complexes by Native Green Gel Electrophoresis and Band Characterization using Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting

Published on: February 14, 2019

  • Exploring natural carbon-partitioning processes for novel strategies.

    • Main Results:

    • Identified a fundamental problem in controlling carbon flow for renewable product generation.
    • Highlighted the lack of understanding in photosynthetic carbon partitioning regulation.
    • Proposed the need for new methods to alter carbon flux.

    Conclusions:

    • Altering carbon partitioning is key to enhancing biofuel and biochemical synthesis.
    • Understanding natural carbon regulation can guide the design of improved production systems.
    • Further research is required to develop effective strategies for redirecting carbon in photosynthetic organisms.