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How does the Calvin Cycle in photosynthesis contribute to carbon fixation, and what is the role of enzymes such as ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) in this process?

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ago by (390 points)
The Calvin Cycle, also known as the Calvin-Benson-Bassham  CBB  cycle or the light-independent reactions, is a crucial part of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and some bacteria. It contributes to carbon fixation by converting atmospheric carbon dioxide  CO2  into organic molecules, such as glucose, which can be used by the organism for energy and growth. The Calvin Cycle occurs in the chloroplasts of photosynthetic organisms and consists of three main stages: carbon fixation, reduction, and regeneration.1. Carbon fixation: In this stage, CO2 from the atmosphere is incorporated into an organic molecule. The enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase  RuBisCO  plays a critical role in this process. RuBisCO catalyzes the reaction between CO2 and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate  RuBP , a 5-carbon sugar, to form an unstable 6-carbon compound. This compound immediately breaks down into two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate  3-PGA , a 3-carbon organic acid.2. Reduction: The 3-PGA molecules are then reduced to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate  G3P  using energy from ATP  adenosine triphosphate  and reducing power from NADPH  nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate . Both ATP and NADPH are produced during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. G3P is a high-energy molecule that can be used to synthesize glucose and other organic molecules.3. Regeneration: Most of the G3P molecules are used to regenerate RuBP, allowing the cycle to continue. This process requires additional ATP from the light-dependent reactions. A small portion of G3P molecules is used to produce glucose and other organic molecules needed by the organism.RuBisCO is a crucial enzyme in the Calvin Cycle and is considered one of the most abundant proteins on Earth. However, it is also an inefficient enzyme, as it can also catalyze the reaction between RuBP and O2  oxygen  instead of CO2, leading to a process called photorespiration. Photorespiration reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis and is considered a wasteful process. Researchers are constantly working on ways to improve the efficiency of RuBisCO and reduce photorespiration, which could potentially lead to increased crop yields and better adaptation to changing environmental conditions.
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