Which of the following describes the Warburg effect in plant physiology?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. The reversible inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants under high atmospheric oxygen concentrations
- Step 1: Otto Warburg discovered in 1920 that high concentrations of (e.g., 21% vs 1-2%) inhibit the rate of photosynthesis in green algae and C3 plants.
- Step 2: The biochemical mechanism was later shown to be the oxygenase activity of RuBisCO, which competes with for the catalytic site and drives photorespiration.
- Step 3: When concentration is lowered, photorespiration is suppressed and photosynthetic yield increases.
Answer
The reversible inhibition of photosynthesis in C3 plants under high atmospheric oxygen concentrations
Why not the others: 'The switch from aerobic respiration to fermentation...' is the Pasteur effect; 'The rapid accumulation of malate...' describes Crassulacean Acid Metabolism; 'The destruction of chlorophyll pigments...' describes solarization or photo-oxidation.
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