Light Independent Reaction

What are Light Independent Reactions?

also known as the Calvin cycle, are a series of chemical reactions in photosynthesis that use energy from light-dependent reactions (ATP and NADPH) to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) into glucose and other organic molecules.

Where do LIR occur?

The stroma of the chloroplast

Step 1: Carbon Fixation

an enzyme called RuBisCO captures carbon dioxide and attaches it to a molecule called RuBP

Step 2: Reduction

ATP and NADPH are used to convert the RuBP molecule into a three-carbon sugar called G3P

Step 3: Regeneration

some of the G3P molecules are used to remake RuBP, and the rest are used to build glucose and other sugars