Q.
For every CO2 molecule entering the Calvin cycle, the number of ATP and NADPH required is
3909
209
AMUAMU 2010Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
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Solution:
The immediate products of one turn of the Calvin cycle are two glyceraldehyde-3 phosphate(G3P) molecules, three ADP and two NADP+(ADP and NADP+are regenerated in the light-dependent reactions). Each G3P molecule is composed of three carbons. In order for the Calvin cycle to continue, RuBP (ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate) must be regenerated. So, 5/6 carbon from the two G3P molecules are used for this purpose. Therefore, there is only 1 net carbon produced to play with for each turn. To create 1 surplus G3P, three carbons are required and therefore three turns of the Calvin cycle. To make one glucose molecule (which can be created from two G3P molecules) would require six turns of the Calvin cycle. Surplus G3P can also be used to form other carbohydrates such as starch, sucrose and cellulose depending on what the plant needs.