C4 pathway
[ˈsiː fɔːr ˈpæθweɪ]
nounpl: C4 pathways
via metabólica C4
1. A photosynthetic pathway in plants where the first stable compound produced contains four carbon atoms, involving the fixation of CO2 into oxaloacetate through the enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEP carboxylase)
Corn and sugarcane are C4 plants that use the C4 pathway to efficiently convert sunlight into chemical energy in hot, dry climates.
O milho e a cana-de-açúcar são plantas C4 que utilizam a via metabólica C4 para converter eficientemente a luz solar em energia química em climas quentes e secos.
2. An alternative photosynthetic process more efficient than the C3 pathway in certain environmental conditions, particularly in warm and arid regions
The C4 pathway allows plants to minimize photorespiration and water loss under intense sunlight.
A via metabólica C4 permite que as plantas minimizem a fotorrespiração e a perda de água sob luz solar intensa.
The C4 pathway is particularly relevant in Brazil due to the country's extensive sugarcane cultivation, which is a major C4 crop used for biofuel production. Understanding the C4 pathway is crucial for agricultural scientists and plant biologists in both the USA and Brazil, where crop optimization research is economically significant.
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