BIO 110-01: Core Principles of Cell

and Molecular Biology

Wednesday, Nov. 10

th

• Announcements
• Ch. 8: Photosynthesis

• Announcements

– Exam 3 - November 15

th

(Monday)

• Chapters 5, 6, and 7

Carbon Fixation Reactions

Calvin cycle

-biochemical pathway that allows for

carbon fixation

-occurs in the stroma
-uses ATP and NADPH as energy

sources

-incorporates CO

2

into organic

molecules

RuBP

3

P

Input:

CO

2

1

Rubisco

3 P

Step Carbon fixation

3-PGA

6

P

C

ALVIN

CYCLE

1

NADP

+

NADPH

ATP

RuBP

3

6 ADP +P

G3P

P

Input:

CO

2

1

Rubisco

3 P

Step Carbon fixation

3-PGA

6

P

C

ALVIN

CYCLE

6

6

6

6

P

Step Reduction

2

2

1

NADPH

ATP

RuBP

3

P

G3P

P

Input:

CO

2

1

Rubisco

3 P

Step Carbon fixation

3-PGA

6

P

C

ALVIN

CYCLE

6

6

6

6

P

Step Reduction

2

2

G3P

5

P

3

3

G3P

1

P

Glucose
and other
compounds

Output:

Step Release of one
molecule of G3P

1

NADP

+

6 ADP +

NADPH

ATP

RuBP

3

P

G3P

P

Input:

CO

2

1

Rubisco

3 P

Step Carbon fixation

3-PGA

6

P

C

ALVIN

CYCLE

6

6

6

6

P

Step Reduction

2

2

G3P

5

P

3

3

G3P

1

P

Glucose
and other
compounds

Output:

Step Release of one
molecule of G3P

1

Step Regeneration of RuBP

4

4

ATP

3

3 ADP

NADP

+

6 ADP +

Carbon Fixation Reactions

carbon fixation

– the incorporation of

CO

2

into organic molecules

-occurs in the first step of the Calvin cycle

ribulose-bis-phosphate + CO

2

2(PGA)

5 carbons 1 carbon 3 carbons

The reaction is catalyzed by

rubisco

.

NADP

+

NADPH

ATP

CO

2

+

H

2

O

ADP

P

Electron

transport

chains

Thylakoid

membranes

Light

Chloroplast

O

2

C

ALVIN

C

YCLE

(in stroma)

Sugars

Photosystem II

Photosystem I

L

IGHT

R

EACTIONS

RuBP

3-PGA

C

ALVIN

C

YCLE

Stroma

G3P

Cellular

respiration
Cellulose
Starch
Other organic

compounds

Carbon Fixation Reactions

To build carbohydrates, cells need:
1. energy

-ATP from light-dependent reactions

2. reduction potential

-NADPH from photosystem I

Carbon Fixation Reactions

Calvin cycle

-biochemical pathway that allows for

carbon fixation

-occurs in the stroma
-uses ATP and NADPH as energy

sources

-incorporates CO

2

into organic

molecules

Carbon Fixation Reactions

carbon fixation

– the incorporation of

CO

2

into organic molecules

-occurs in the first step of the Calvin cycle

ribulose-bis-phosphate + CO

2

2(PGA)

5 carbons 1 carbon 3 carbons

The reaction is catalyzed by

rubisco

.

Carbon Fixation Reactions

The Calvin cycle has 3 phases:
1. carbon fixation

RuBP + CO

2

2 molecules PGA

2. reduction

PGA is reduced to G3P

3. regeneration of RuBP

G3P is used to regenerate RuBP

Carbon Fixation Reactions

Glucose is not a direct product of the

Calvin cycle.

-2 molecules of G3P leave the cycle
-each G3P contains 3 carbons
-2 G3P are used to produce 1 glucose

in reactions in the cytoplasm

Carbon Fixation Reactions

During the Calvin cycle, energy is

needed. The energy is supplied
from:

- 18 ATP molecules
- 12 NADPH molecules

Carbon Fixation Reactions

The energy cycle:

-photosynthesis uses the products of

respiration as starting substrates

-respiration uses the products of

photosynthesis as starting substrates

Photorespiration

Rubisco has 2 enzymatic activities:
1. carboxylation – the addition of CO

2

to

RuBP
-favored under normal conditions

2.

photorespiration

– the oxidation of

RuBP by the addition of O

2

-favored in hot conditions

CO

2

and O

2

compete for the active site on

RuBP.

Photorespiration

Some plants can avoid photorespiration by

using an enzyme other than rubisco.

-

PEP carboxylase

-CO

2

is added to phosphoenolpyruvate

(PEP)

-a 4 carbon compound is produced
-CO

2

is later released from this 4-carbon

compound and used by rubisco in the
Calvin cycle

Photorespiration

C

4

plants

-use PEP carboxylase to capture CO

2

-CO

2

is added to PEP in one cell type

(mesophyll cell)

-the resulting 4-carbon compound is

moved into a bundle sheath cell
where the CO

2

is released and used

in the Calvin cycle

Photorespiration

CAM plants

-CO

2

is captured at night when stomata are

open

-PEP carboxylase adds CO

2

to PEP to

produce a 4 carbon compound

-this compound releases CO

2

during the

day

-CO

2

is then used by rubisco in the Calvin

cycle