Calvin cycle
Calvin Cycle
The Calvin Cycle (pronounced: /ˈkælvɪn/), also known as the Calvin-Benson Cycle or the Light-Independent Reactions, is a series of biochemical, enzyme-assisted reactions that take place in the stroma of chloroplast in photosynthetic organisms. The cycle was first proposed by Melvin Calvin, Andrew Benson, and James Bassham in 1950.
Etymology
The term "Calvin Cycle" is named after the American chemist Melvin Calvin, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work on the cycle. The cycle is also named after Andrew Benson, a prominent biochemist who also contributed to the discovery and understanding of the cycle.
Process
The Calvin Cycle is the second phase of photosynthesis, following the light-dependent reactions. It involves the fixation of carbon dioxide (CO2) into organic molecules, such as glucose, in a process called carbon fixation. This process is facilitated by the enzyme Rubisco.
The Calvin Cycle consists of three stages:
1. Carbon Fixation: The enzyme Rubisco adds carbon dioxide to Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP), a five-carbon compound, splitting it into two three-carbon compounds.
2. Reduction: ATP and NADPH from the light-dependent reactions provide the energy to convert the three-carbon compounds into glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P), a simple sugar.
3. Regeneration: Some G3P molecules go on to form glucose, while others are used to regenerate RuBP, allowing the cycle to continue.
Related Terms
- Photosynthesis
- Chloroplast
- Rubisco
- Carbon fixation
- Light-dependent reactions
- Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate
- Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Calvin cycle
- Wikipedia's article - Calvin cycle
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski