Figure 1
From: A multi-treatment experimental system to examine photosynthetic differentiation in the maize leaf
C 4 photosynthesis in the maize ( Zea mays ) leaf. A. Schematic of a longitudinal cross section through a maize leaf showing Kranz anatomy. Thick-walled bundle sheath (B) cells surround longitudinal veins (V). Mesophyll cells (M) occupy the leaf space between vascular bundles. B. Major reactions of the C4 carbon shuttle. 1) Carbon is initially added to phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) to form oxaloacetate (OAA) by the enzyme PEP carboxylase (PEPC). 2) OAA is transported to the M chloroplasts where it is reduced to malate (MA) by NADP-specific malate dehydrogenase (NADP-MDH). 3) MA is transported to the B where it is decarboxylated by NADP-malic enzyme (NADP-ME) to yield pyruvate (PA) and release CO2 to the Calvin cycle. 4) PA is returned to the M where it is phosphorylated by phosphoenol pyruvate dikinase (PPdK) to regenerate PEP and continue the cycle.