C2 Cycle Definition

The C2 cycle is light-dependent, known as the oxidative photosynthetic or carbon cycle or C2 cycle. The other name for the C2 cycle is photorespiration. It occurs in the chloroplasts. Under high concentrations of oxygen, the carbon dioxide that is fixed is lost. The oxidative photosynthetic carbon cycle (or C2 cycle) is the metabolic mechanism that is responsible for photosynthetic oxygen intake and photorespiration, which is the light-dependent synthesis of carbon dioxide. It eliminates harmful metabolic intermediates.