Which energy carriers are used by the Calvin cycle to convert CO2 into carbohydrate?

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Multiple Choice

Which energy carriers are used by the Calvin cycle to convert CO2 into carbohydrate?

ATP and NADPH are the energy carriers that power the Calvin cycle. The light reactions of photosynthesis produce ATP, which supplies the energy to drive the cycle’s endergonic steps, including the regeneration of RuBP and the phosphorylation of intermediates. NADPH provides the high-energy electrons needed to reduce the carbon-containing molecules, enabling the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. This reducing power is essential for building carbohydrate from CO2. Other carriers aren’t used in this process. FADH2 and NADH are mainly involved in respiration and other catabolic pathways. NADP+ is the oxidized form that gets reduced to NADPH in the light reactions, so the Calvin cycle uses NADPH rather than NADP+. ADP is not a primary energy carrier in this context.

ATP and NADPH are the energy carriers that power the Calvin cycle. The light reactions of photosynthesis produce ATP, which supplies the energy to drive the cycle’s endergonic steps, including the regeneration of RuBP and the phosphorylation of intermediates. NADPH provides the high-energy electrons needed to reduce the carbon-containing molecules, enabling the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate into glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. This reducing power is essential for building carbohydrate from CO2.

Other carriers aren’t used in this process. FADH2 and NADH are mainly involved in respiration and other catabolic pathways. NADP+ is the oxidized form that gets reduced to NADPH in the light reactions, so the Calvin cycle uses NADPH rather than NADP+. ADP is not a primary energy carrier in this context.

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