Question

In sugarcane plant \(^{14}CO_2\) is fixed in malic acid, in which the enzyme that fixes \(CO_2\) is:

• A. Ribulose biphosphate carboxylase
• B. Phosphoenol pyruvic acid carboxylase
• C. Ribulose phosphate kinase
• D. Fructose phosphatase

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

In the sugarcane plant, Phosphoenol pyruvic acid carboxylase (PEP carboxylase) is the enzyme responsible for fixing \(CO_2\) to form malic acid during a process called Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM). This enzyme is crucial for \(CO_2\) fixation in plants that use the CAM photosynthesis pathway, which includes many succulent plants like sugarcane.

So, the correct option is (B): Phosphoenol pyruvic acid carboxylase