Crassulacean Acid Metabolism – CAM

Crassulacean acid metabolism – CAM (or CAM photosynthesis) is a method of carbon fixation used by some plants. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is fixed during the night, and stored as the four-carbon acid malate. The CO₂ is released during the day, where it increases the efficiency of photosynthesis by concentrating around the enzyme RUBISCO. The CAM pathway is particularly common in arid zone plants as this method of photosynthesis allows stomata to remain shut during the day, reducing evapotranspiration.