Overview of the Calvin cycle and carbon fixation

In photosynthesis, the light-independent reactions, also somewhat misleadingly called the dark reactions, are chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and other compounds into glucose. These reactions, unlike the light-dependent reactions, do not need light to occur; hence the term dark reactions. These reactions take the products of the light-dependent reactions and perform further chemical processes on them. The light-independent reactions are two: carbon fixation and the Calvin-Benson cycle. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (856x742, 51 KB)This image was copied from wikipedia:en. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (856x742, 51 KB)This image was copied from wikipedia:en. ... Overview of the Calvin cycle and carbon fixation The Calvin cycle (or Calvin-Benson cycle or carbon fixation) is a series of biochemical reactions that takes place in the stroma of chloroplasts in photosynthetic organisms. ... The leaf is the primary site of photosynthesis in plants. ... A chemical reaction is a process that results in the interconversion of chemical substances [1]. The substance or substances initially involved in a chemical reaction are called reactants. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas comprised of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... A chemical compound is a chemical substance formed from two or more elements, with a fixed ratio determining the composition. ... Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is one of the most important carbohydrates. ... The first stage of the photosynthetic system is the light-dependent reaction, which converts solar energy into chemical energy. ... Prism splitting light Light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is visible to the eye (visible light) or, in a technical or scientific context, electromagnetic radiation of wavelengths that are studied in the field of optics. ... Carbon fixation is a process found in photosynthesis in autotrophic plants. ... The Calvin cycle (also known as Calvin-Benson cycle) is a series of biochemical reactions taking place in the chloroplasts of photosynthetic organisms. ...

In CAM plants, carbon fixation actually does take place at night. Crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) is a carbon fixation pathway in some photosynthetic plants. ...

// Regeneration of the substrate for this reaction requires light. Thus it is not that correct to call this reaction as light-independent reaction.

Carbon fixation

Overview of C4 carbon fixation

The carbon fixation reaction is the first step of the light-independent reactions. Carbon from carbon dioxide is "fixed" into a larger carbohydrate. Three pathways to occur: C3 carbon fixation (the most common), C4 carbon fixation, and CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism). C3 fixation occurs as the first step of the Calvin-Benson cycle in all plants. C4 plants first fix carbon dioxide into malate, which is then used to supply carbon dioxide in the middle of the night to the Calvin-Benson cycle. CAM plants perform a similar process. Image File history File links HatchSlackpathway. ... Image File history File links HatchSlackpathway. ... C4 carbon fixation is a metabolic pathway found in some land plants (C4 plants). ... Carbon fixation is a process found in photosynthesis in autotrophic plants. ... General Name, Symbol, Number carbon, C, 6 Chemical series nonmetals Group, Period, Block 14, 2, p Appearance black (graphite) colorless (diamond) Atomic mass 12. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas comprised of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... Carbohydrates are chemical compounds that contain oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon atoms. ... C3 carbon fixation is a pathway for carbon fixation in photosynthesis. ... C4 carbon fixation is a metabolic pathway found in some land plants (C4 plants). ... Malate (O−OC-CH2-CH(OH)-COO−) is the ionized form of malic acid. ...

Calvin cycle

The Calvin-Benson cycle takes carbon dioxide and converts it to glucose, which the plant uses for energy. The Calvin cycle (also known as Calvin-Benson cycle) is a series of biochemical reactions taking place in the chloroplasts of photosynthetic organisms. ... Carbon dioxide is an atmospheric gas comprised of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. ... Glucose (Glc), a monosaccharide (or simple sugar), is one of the most important carbohydrates. ...

External links

• The Biochemistry of the Calvin Cycle at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute