The Important Events of Calvin Cycle

Calvin cycle

refers to the light-independent reactions in photosynthesis that take place in three key steps

ATP and NADPH

are products of light-dependent reaction; needed in the Calvin Cycle

first stage of the Calvin cycle

includes fixation where the light-independent reactions are initiated; CO2 is fixed from an inorganic to an organic molecule

second stage of the Calvin cycle

it is where ATP and NADPH are used to reduce 3- PGA into G3P; then ATP and NADPH are converted to ADP and NADP+, respectively

last stage of the Calvin cycle

it is where RuBP is regenerated, which enables the system to prepare for more CO2 to be fixed.

light-independent reaction

stroma

where light-dependent reaction occurs

RuBisCo

ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase

RuBisCo translates to

ribulose bisphosphate

an organic substance that is involved in photosynthesis, reacts with carbon dioxide to form 3-PGA

fixation, reduction, and regeneration

The Calvin cycle reactions can be organized into what three basic stages?

RuBP

has five atoms of carbon and a phosphate group on each end.

carbon fixation

process where RuBisCO catalyzes a reaction between CO2 and RuBP, which forms a six-carbon compound that is immediately converted into two three-carbon compounds

G3P

ATP and NADPH use their stored energy to convert the three-carbon compound, 3-PGA, into another three-carbon compound called ________

six

because the carbohydrate molecule has six carbon atoms, it takes ____ turns of the Calvin cycle to make one carbohydrate molecule