The Calvin Cycle

What’s going on??

• The light reactions (in the thylakoid) have
made O2, ATP, and NADPH. O2 is released
as “waste.”
• Now, the second set of reactions take place
in the stroma. These are collectively called
the Calvin Cycle.
 Step one of the Calvin Cycle
• 1. CO2 diffuses into the stroma from the
surrounding cytoplasm.
• It combines with a 5-C molecule called
RuBP.
• The resulting 6-C molecule is very unstable
and splits immediately into 2, 3-C
molecules of PGA.
 Step two of the Calvin Cycle
• 2. PGA is converted into another 3-C
molecule called PGAL by receiving a
phosphate group from ATP and a proton
from NADPH. It then releases the
phosphate group.
 Step three of the Calvin Cycle
• 3.) 12 molecules of PGAL are produced.
(This took 6 molecules of CO2.)
• 2 molecules of PGAL combine to make
glucose, which can be used to make other
carbohydrates (starch, cellulose.)
• The other 10 molecules of PGAL are
converted back to RuBP so the cycle can
continue.
Summary of the Light Reactions
• What they use: • What they make:
-Water -O2 (released as waste)
-Sunlight -ATP (by
chemiosmosis)
*Chlorophyll and -NADPH (by e-
carotenoids play major transport)
roles also.
 Summary of the Calvin Cycle
• What it uses: • What it makes:
-CO2 -Glucose
-RuBP -Regenerates RuBP,
-ATP (from light ADP, NADP+, and
reactions) phosphate
-NADPH (from light
reactions)
The Balance Sheet for Photosynthesis
6H2O + 6CO2 ----------> C6H12O6+ 6O2