Kranz Anatomy and the C4 Pathway

James O Berry, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
Minesh Patel, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

Published online: December 2008

DOI: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0001295.pub2

C4 photosynthesis incorporates novel leaf anatomy, metabolic specializations and modified gene expression. Plants that utilize this pathway typically possess a distinctive Kranz (or wreath) leaf anatomy, consisting of two photosynthetic cell types. These are the bundle sheath (bs) cells, which surround the vascular centres, and the mesophyll (mp) cells, which surround the bs cells. This structural framework allows for the compartmentalization and functional separation of two sets of carboxylation and decarboxylation reactions. Within C4 leaves, selective expression of bs and mp cell-specific genes leads to the selective accumulation of key photosynthetic enzymes which catalyse the different sets of cell-type-specific reactions, thereby enabling these plants to assimilate atmospheric carbon dioxide with very high efficiency. For some plants, C4 photosynthesis has facilitated their adaptation to arid conditions, high temperatures and marginal environments. Understanding the basis of this pathway has applications for improvements in agricultural productivity and alternative fuel development.

Keywords: C4; photosynthesis; bundle sheath and mesophyll cells; evolution and adaptability; C4 enzymes; gene regulation; biotechnology

Figure 1. Diagrammatic representation of Kranz anatomy and the C4 pathway. (a) Typical Kranz leaf anatomy as observed within a leaf cross-section. (b) Simplified representation of the C4 pathway superimposed on an enlarged diagram of the two cell types, indicating the cellular localization of carboxylation, decarboxylation and reassimilation reactions. v, vascular centre; bs, bundle sheath cells; mp, mesophyll cells; e, upper or lower leaf epidermal cells.
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    Hatch MD (1992) C4 photosynthesis: an unlikely process full of surprises. Plant and Cell Physiology 33: 333–342.
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    Leegood RC (2002) C4 photosynthesis: principles of CO2 concentration and prospects for its introduction into C3 plants. Journal of Experimental Botany 53: 581–590.
    book Sage RF and Monson RK (eds) (1999) C4 Plant Biology. San Diego: Academic Press.

Related Sub-Topics:

Adaptive Evolution | Diversification of Plants and Animals | Evolution of Novelty | Evolutionary Ecology | Physiological Ecology | Organisms and the Physical Environment | Plant Evolution | Leaves | Photosynthesis | Plant Responses to the Environment
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Article Title: Kranz Anatomy and the C4 Pathway
 
How to Cite close
Berry, James O, and Patel, Minesh(Dec 2008) Kranz Anatomy and the C4 Pathway. In: eLS. John Wiley & Sons Ltd, Chichester. http://www.els.net [doi: 10.1002/9780470015902.a0001295.pub2]