Crassulacean acid metabolism, also known as CAM photosynthesis, is a carbon fixation pathway that evolved in some plants as an adaptation to arid conditions. In a plant using full CAM, the stomata in the leaves remain shut during the day to reduce evapotranspiration, but open at night to collect carbon dioxide (CO2). The CO2 is stored as the four-carbon acid malate, and then used during photosynthesis during the day. The pre-collected CO2 is concentrated around the enzyme RuBisCO, increasing photosynthetic efficiency.
Read more about Crassulacean Acid Metabolism: Historical Background, Overview of CAM: A Two-part Cycle, Biochemistry, Use of CAM By Plants, Ecological and Taxonomic Distribution of CAM-using Plants
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