By: ANAZ.

A
NATURAL SCIENCE
Candidate
code:13375006


6CO
2
+6H
2
O C
6
H
12
O
6
+6O
2


The dark reactions use the energy stored in ATP and
NADPH the light reactions.
Carbon atoms from CO
2
are bonded, or fixed, into
organic compounds = carbon fixation.
THIS OCCURS IN THE STROMA

STEP 1
An enzyme (rubisco),
combines CO
2
with a 5-
carbon sugar RuBP
The product, 6-C sugar,
immediately splits into
2, -3C molecules (PGA)

PGA Phosphoglyceric
Acid

Step 2
PGA is converted to
another 3- Carbon
molecule PGAL in a 2 part
process:
Each PGA receives a P
group from ATP
The resulting compound
receives a proton from
NADPH and releases the
P, producing PGAL
( ADP & NADP+ return to light
rxn., to make ATP and
NADPH)

Step 3
Most of the PGAL is
converted back to RuBP
Requires a P from
another ATP

Some PGAL leave and
used by plants create
organic compounds

Balance Sheet for Photosynthesis
How much ATP & NADH are required to make 1
molecule of PGA from carbon dioxide?
Each turn fixes one CO
2

PGAL is a 3-C molecule (takes 3 turns to make each
molecule)
Each turn of the cycle:
3 ATP ( 2 in step 2 & 1 in step 3)
2 NADPH (step 3)

About 50% made to fuel cell Respiration

Some of the PGAL is used to make amino acids, lipids,
carbohydrates like glucose and fructose, glycogen,
starch, and cellulose.

Alternative Pathways
Plants that fix carbon exclusively through the Calvin
Cycle- C3 Plants
Because of the 3-C compound PGA, that is initially
formed.
Example: Rice, wheat, oats, and soybeans

Alternative Pathways
Plants in hot, dry climates use alternative pathways
Plant lose H
2
O to the air-through small pores called
stomata (underside of leaf )
Can be partially closed to prevent water loss
Stomata are the major passageways through which CO
2

enters and O
2
leaves
(when stomata are closed CO
2
levels decrease and O
2

levels increase)

C
4
Plants
Fix CO
4
into 4-C
compounds
Partially close stomata
during hottest part of the
day
Enzymes fix CO
2
into 4-C
compounds and transport
them to cells where CO
2
is
released and enters calvin
cycle ( lose as much
H2O as C3)
Examples
Corn, sugar cane, crabgrass

CAM Pathways
Open stomata at night;
close during the day

Take in CO
2
at night and
fix into compounds

Release O
2
during the
day and enter the Calvin
cycle

Example: cacti,
pineapples