StMU Research Scholars

Featuring Scholarly Research, Writing, and Media at St. Mary's University
April 13, 2025

Photorespiration – When Rubisco Fixes Oxygen Instead of Carbon Dioxide

In this video, we break down the process of photorespiration — a seemingly wasteful pathway that occurs when the enzyme Rubisco,  instead of fixing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, mistakenly fixes oxygen. Rubisco has an unfortunate flaw: it can bind to both CO₂ and O₂. Under certain conditions like high temperatures, intense light, or low CO₂ levels, Rubisco is more likely to grab O₂. This leads to photorespiration, a process that uses energy and releases CO₂, rather than fixing it, making it less efficient for the plant. This video explains why rubisco is not the perfect enzyme, how environmental conditions affect its activity, an overview of  photorespiration, and why scientists are trying to create an improved rubisco.

  1. Script and Lyrics Development: To develop the lyrics and overall narrative tone for the music video, I used a combination of ChatGPT, Canva, and Fliki. ChatGPT helped provide information and facts about the enzyme rubisco and how during photorespiration, it fixes oxygen instead of carbon dioxide. In Canva, I created the visuals I wanted to include in my video. These were then inputted into Fliki and a script was generated for me to use in my video.
  2. Audio and Music Generation: Once the lyrics were refined, I chose the music that Fliki provided to go with the flow of my  video. I wanted my video to be upbeat and engaging, and the audio I chose went well with the theme I wanted my video to have.
  3. Image Creation and Visual Accuracy: For visuals, I primarily used Canva and BioRender to generate colorful visuals that  capture the idea of photorespiration. I used a photosynthesis template in Canva and replaced the information with facts about  photorespiration instead. All visuals were carefully reviewed and replaced when necessary.
  4. Image Animation and Movement: I used Fliki’s stock videos that corresponded towhat the script was explaining at the time the visual was being presented.  Final Editing and Assembly: I compiled the full project in Fliki, integrating images created in  Canva and BioRender, animated visuals chosen from Fliki, and music to form an information video about photorespiration.  Having an upbeat audio, I polished the transitions for a smooth and engaging viewing experience.

References

  1. “Photorespiration – When Rubisco Fixes Oxygen Instead of Carbon Dioxide.” Fliki,
    uploaded by Angelica Cue-Leon, April 11, 2025, fliki.ai/url/to/video.
  2. Cue-Leon, A. (2025). Closed and Open Stomata. Created in BioRender.
    https://BioRender.com
  3. Cue-Leon, A. (2025). Rubisco and World. Created in BioRender.
    https://BioRender.com
  4. Cue-Leon, A. (2025). Environments Conditions and Photorespiration. Created in
    BioRender. https://BioRender.com

Angelica Cue-Leon

Biology B.S. Major, Class of 2028

Author Portfolio Page

Recent Comments

3 comments

  • rmanzur

    Really well done! I enjoyed how clearly you explained such a tricky topic like photorespiration. The visuals were smooth and colorful, and the music kept it fun without taking away from the science. You made a complicated process easy to follow, and it’s obvious you put a lot of work into the editing. Great job overall!

  • Alejandro Rubio Chappell

    Your video was visually engaging and truly enjoyable to watch. I usually get distracted easily, but your content kept me focused the entire time. The rectangular captions at the bottom were a thoughtful touch that made the information easy to follow. I also loved the close-up shots of plants—they added a calming, natural feel that balanced the cartoon imagery perfectly. I learned a lot!

  • Meadow Ayala

    This video made photorespiration so much easier to understand! I never realized how much of a flaw Rubisco actually has, and how tricky it is for plants when it grabs oxygen instead of carbon dioxide. The explanation of environmental factors like heat and light helped connect the science to real-world plant struggles. The visuals and music made it fun to watch and kept things clear. It’s awesome that science videos like this can be both educational and genuinely engaging!

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