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The Calvin Cycle

Casey McKhann

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What is the Calvin Cycle? Why is it Important?

  • The Calvin Cycle is a process used by plants and algae to turn carbon dioxide (CO2) from the air into sugars.
  • Plants need the sugars from produced in the Calvin Cycle to grow
  • All living organisms on Earth depend on the Calvin Cycle as autotrophs are the foundation of our food webs.
  • The Calvin Cycle removes 200 Billion tons of CO2 from the Air Annually

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How does the Calvin Cycle work?

The Calvin Cycle can be broken up into three main stages.

  • Carbon Fixation
  • Reduction
  • Regeneration

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Carbon Fixation

Carbon Fixation is the first stage of the Calvin Cycle

  • A carbon dioxide molecule combines RuBP, a five carbon acceptor making a 6 carbon compound.
  • The 6 carbon compound splits into two seperate 3 carbon molecules called 3-PGA.
  • This entire reaction is catalyzed by the enzyme rubisco.

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Reduction

Reduction is the 2nd stage of the Calvin Cycle

  • The 3-PGA molecules are converted into G3P Molecules, a three-carbon sugar, through the use of NADPH and ATP.
  • NADPH donated electrons to 3-PGA to allow this to happen.

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Regeneration

Regeneration is the third stage of the Calvin Cycle

  • Some G3P molecules exit the cycle to create glucose. The majority of G3P Molecules stay in the system.
  • The molecules which stay are recycled to help regenerate the RuBP receptor used in the Carbon Fixation. New CO2 enters the Cycle and the Calvin Cycle repeats itself
  • This process requires ATP.

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Takeaways

  • The Calvin Cycle uses carbon dioxide to create sugars
  • All living organisms rely on the Calvin Cycle
  • It is broken up into three stages: Carbon Fixation, Reduction, Regeneration.

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Works Cited

Khan Academy. "The Calvin cycle (article) | Photosynthesis | Khan Academy." Khan Academy, https://www.khanacademy.org/science/ap-biology/cellular-energetics/photosynthesis/a/calvin-cycle.

National Geographic Society. "Calvin Cycle ." National Geographic Society, 16 Nov. 2011, http://www.nationalgeographic.org/media/calvincycle/.

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