The role of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in C ₄ photosynthesis

Alanine and aspartate are essential transfer metabolites for C 4 species of the NAD ‐malic enzyme and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase subtype. To some degree both amino acids are also part of the metabolite shuttle in NADP ‐malic enzyme plants. In comparison with C 3 species, the majority of C 4 species are therefore characterised by enhanced expression and activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases ( AT ) in the photosynthetically...