Calvin Cycle

Front

What is the Calvin Cycle?

Back

The Calvin Cycle is a series of biochemical reactions that take place in the stroma of chloroplasts in photosynthetic organisms, where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose using ATP and NADPH produced in the light-dependent reactions.

Front

What is the primary function of the Calvin Cycle?

Back

The primary function of the Calvin Cycle is to synthesize glucose from carbon dioxide and water, using energy from ATP and reducing power from NADPH.

Front

What are the three main stages of the Calvin Cycle?

Back

The three main stages of the Calvin Cycle are Carbon Fixation, Reduction, and Regeneration of RuBP.

Front

What is the role of RuBP in the Calvin Cycle?

Back

RuBP (ribulose bisphosphate) is a 5-carbon sugar that acts as the CO2 acceptor in the Calvin Cycle, allowing carbon fixation to occur.

Front

What enzyme catalyzes the first step of the Calvin Cycle?

Back

The enzyme that catalyzes the first step of the Calvin Cycle is RuBisCO (ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase).

Front

What happens during the Carbon Fixation stage of the Calvin Cycle?

Back

During the Carbon Fixation stage, CO2 is attached to RuBP by the enzyme RuBisCO, forming an unstable 6-carbon compound that quickly splits into two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA).

Front

What is the significance of NADPH in the Calvin Cycle?

Back

NADPH provides the reducing power needed to convert PGA into G3P (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate) during the Reduction stage of the Calvin Cycle.

Front

What is G3P and its importance in the Calvin Cycle?

Back

G3P (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate) is a 3-carbon sugar produced in the Calvin Cycle that can be used to form glucose and other carbohydrates.

Front

What occurs during the Reduction stage of the Calvin Cycle?

Back

During the Reduction stage, ATP and NADPH are used to convert PGA into G3P, which can then be used to synthesize glucose.

Front

What is the role of ATP in the Calvin Cycle?

Back

ATP provides the energy required for the conversion of PGA to G3P during the Reduction stage of the Calvin Cycle.