Calvin Cycle Vocabulary

Calvin Cycle

• Also known as light-independent reactions.
• Requires an input of 6 CO_2 molecules.

Carbon Fixation

• Carbon from CO_2 is incorporated into organic molecules.
• This process is catalyzed by the enzyme rubisco.
  • Rubisco is the most abundant protein in the world, estimated at 4 mes 10^{13} grams.

Reduction

• Involves the reduction of 12 molecules of 3-PGA to 12 molecules of G3P.
• Requires 12 ATP molecules, which are converted to 12 ADP + 12 P.
• Also requires 12 NADPH molecules, which are converted to 12 NADP+.
• G3P molecules take on electrons during this reduction step.

G3P Outcome

• 2 molecules of G3P are the "profit" (total of 6 carbons).
  • This is equivalent to 1 molecule of glucose (CH{12}O6).
• 10 molecules of G3P remain in the cycle.

Regeneration of RuBP

• Involves the (re)investment of 6 5-C RuBP molecules (total of 30 carbons).
• Requires 6 ATP molecules, which are converted to 6 ADP + 6 P.

Cycle Summary

• The Calvin Cycle is powered by energy currency molecules: ATP and NADPH.
• Briefly forms 6 6-C molecules.