8. Dark Dependent Reactions Flashcards
What is the main goal of dark reactions
Using the free energy from ATP and reducing power of NADPH to synthesize organic compounds from atmospheric carbon
What are other names for dark recations
-Light independent reactions
- The Calvin cycle
Where do dark reactions occur
Occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast
Do dark reactions require any light energy
No … duh
Whats are the three phases of the calvin cycle
- Carbon Fixation -
- Reduction Reactions - Redox reaction (losing and gaining electrons)
- Regeneration of RuBP - analogous to oxaloacetate
What is rubisco
Rubisco is the most important and most abundant enzyme on the planet.
Without it there are no plants on the planet and the entire ecologogical pyramid collapses.
What is the issue with rubisco
Sometimes O2 beats out CO2 for space in the actice cite making it useless
What happens in the carbon fixation phase of the calvin cycle
Rubisco combines RuBP with CO2 making 3 6C molecules (18C total)
What happens in the reduction Reactions phase of the calvin cycle
3 6C molecs made before are converted into 6 G3P (3C) molecules. One leaves the cycle as a glucose molecule, now there are 15C in the cycle
What happens in the Regeneration of RuBP phase of the calvin cycle
The 5 G3P molecules (15C) are combined to make one RuBP molecule, the cucle will repeat
What do NADPH carry
Electrons
How many G3P are made per cycle
1 (3C)
How many glucose are made per two cycles
1 bc 1 glucose = 2 G3P
How often is the calvin cycle successful with rubsico
50% of the time
Where and how many CO2 are imputed into the calvin cycle
3 CO2 imputed at Rubisco
