
The Calvin cycle is a series of biochemical redox reactions that convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen-carrier compounds into glucose. The cycle was discovered in 1950 by Melvin Calvin, James Bassham, and Andrew Benson. The Calvin cycle uses the chemical energy of ATP and the reducing power of NADPH from the light-dependent reactions to produce sugars for the plant to use. The energy from sunlight is briefly held in NADPH and ATP, which is needed to drive the formation of sugars such as glucose. Six turns of the Calvin cycle use chemical energy from ATP to combine six carbon atoms from six CO2 molecules with 12 hot hydrogens from NADPH. The result is one molecule of glucose.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Energy Sources | ATP, NADPH |
| Energy Source Function | ATP provides energy for conversion, NADPH acts as a reducing agent |
| Energy Source Creation | Created during light-dependent reactions |
| Energy Source Location | Stroma of chloroplast |
| Number of Turns for Carbohydrate Molecule | Six |
| Number of Turns for Glucose | Six |
| Number of ATP molecules required for six turns | 12 |
| Number of NADPH molecules required for six turns | 12 |
| Number of ATP molecules required for regeneration | 6 |
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What You'll Learn

The Calvin cycle's energy sources
The Calvin cycle is a series of biochemical redox reactions that convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen-carrier compounds into glucose. It is present in all photosynthetic eukaryotes and many photosynthetic bacteria. The cycle was discovered in 1950 by Melvin Calvin, James Bassham, and Andrew Benson at the University of California, Berkeley, using the radioactive isotope carbon-14.
The Calvin cycle uses the energy of sunlight to produce ATP and NADPH, which are then used to convert carbon dioxide and water into organic compounds that can be used by the organism and by animals that feed on it. This set of reactions is also called carbon fixation.
The energy sources for the Calvin cycle are ATP and NADPH. The energy from sunlight is briefly held in NADPH and ATP, which is needed to drive the formation of sugars such as glucose. The Calvin cycle uses the chemical energy of ATP and the reducing power of NADPH from the light-dependent reactions to produce sugars for the plant to use. These substrates are used in a series of reduction-oxidation (redox) reactions to produce sugars in a step-by-step process.
The Calvin cycle has two parts. First, carbon dioxide is fixed, and then ATP and NADPH from the light reactions provide energy to combine the fixed carbons to make sugar. In the first stage of photosynthesis, light-dependent reactions capture the energy of light and use it to make the energy-storage molecule ATP and the moderate-energy hydrogen carrier NADPH. These energy-carrying molecules then travel into the stroma, where the Calvin cycle reactions take place.
The Calvin cycle reactions can be organized into three basic stages: fixation, reduction, and regeneration. It takes six turns of the Calvin cycle to make one carbohydrate molecule, and these six turns require energy input from 12 ATP molecules and 12 NADPH molecules in the reduction step and 6 ATP molecules in the regeneration step.
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ATP and NADPH's role
The Calvin cycle is a process that uses energy from sunlight to produce glucose. This process is divided into two parts. In the first part, carbon dioxide is 'fixed', and in the second part, ATP and NADPH from the light reactions provide energy to combine the fixed carbons to make sugar.
ATP and NADPH are energy carriers that play a crucial role in the Calvin cycle. They provide the energy and electrons necessary for the creation of high-energy sugars from carbon dioxide. The energy from sunlight is briefly held in NADPH and ATP, which is needed to drive the formation of sugars such as glucose.
ATP serves as the primary energy source, while NADPH acts as a reducing agent to facilitate this process. Six turns of the Calvin cycle use chemical energy from ATP to combine six carbon atoms from six CO2 molecules with 12 "hot hydrogens" from NADPH. The result is one molecule of glucose, C6H12O6.
The Calvin cycle reactions add carbon (from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere) to a simple five-carbon molecule called RuBP. These reactions use chemical energy from NADPH and ATP that were produced in the light reactions. The final product of the Calvin cycle is glucose.
In summary, ATP and NADPH are essential in the Calvin cycle as they provide the energy and electrons required to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.
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Carbon fixation
The Calvin cycle is a process that fixes carbon dioxide and converts it into organic molecules, such as glucose. This process is also known as carbon fixation, and it is essential for photosynthesis. The Calvin cycle has two main parts: carbon fixation and the combination of fixed carbons to make sugar.
During the first stage of photosynthesis, light-dependent reactions occur, where energy from sunlight is converted into chemical energy and stored in molecules of ATP and NADPH. These molecules then travel into the stroma, where the Calvin cycle reactions take place.
The Calvin cycle begins with the enzyme RuBisCO catalysing a reaction between carbon dioxide (CO2) and RuBP, forming a six-carbon compound. This compound immediately breaks down into two three-carbon compounds, which are then converted into a three-carbon compound called G3P. One of the G3P molecules leaves the Calvin cycle to contribute to the formation of glucose.
The remaining G3P molecules regenerate RuBP, allowing the system to prepare for the next round of carbon fixation. This regeneration process requires ATP input. Overall, six turns of the Calvin cycle are needed to fix six carbon atoms from CO2 and produce one molecule of glucose. This process requires energy input from 12 ATP and 12 NADPH molecules in the reduction step and an additional 6 ATP molecules in the regeneration step.
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How energy is stored
The Calvin cycle is a series of biochemical redox reactions that convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen-carrier compounds into glucose. The cycle was discovered in 1950 by Melvin Calvin, James Bassham, and Andrew Benson at the University of California, Berkeley, using the radioactive isotope carbon-14. The Calvin cycle is also called the
The Calvin cycle reactions can be organized into three basic stages: fixation, reduction, and regeneration. In the first stage, the enzyme RuBisCO incorporates carbon dioxide into an organic molecule. In the second stage, the organic molecule is reduced. In the third stage, RuBP, the molecule that starts the cycle, is regenerated so that the cycle can continue.
The Calvin cycle uses the energy stored by the light-dependent reactions to form glucose and other carbohydrate molecules. The energy from sunlight is converted into chemical energy and temporarily stored in ATP and NADPH molecules, which is needed to drive the formation of sugars such as glucose. These molecules then travel into the stroma, where the Calvin cycle reactions take place. The energy released by ATP hydrolysis is also used in the regeneration of RuBP.
The reactions of the Calvin cycle use the chemical energy of ATP and the reducing power of NADPH from the light-dependent reactions to produce sugars for the plant to use. Six turns of the Calvin cycle use chemical energy from ATP to combine six carbon atoms from six CO2 molecules with 12 "hot hydrogens" from NADPH. The result is one molecule of glucose, C6H12O6. These six turns require energy input from 12 ATP molecules and 12 NADPH molecules in the reduction step and 6 ATP molecules in the regeneration step.
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The Calvin cycle's function
The Calvin cycle is a series of chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and hydrogen-carrier compounds into glucose. It is present in all photosynthetic eukaryotes and many photosynthetic bacteria. The cycle has two parts: carbon fixation and the use of energy from ATP and NADPH from light reactions to combine fixed carbon to make sugar.
The Calvin cycle reactions take place in the stroma of the chloroplast, where carbon dioxide enters and diffuses. The cycle is activated in the light, and its regulatory functions prevent it from being respired into carbon dioxide. The energy from sunlight is stored in NADPH and ATP, which is needed to drive the formation of sugars such as glucose.
The Calvin cycle can be divided into three main stages: carboxylation, reduction reactions, and ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration. In the first stage, the enzyme RuBisCO incorporates carbon dioxide into an organic molecule. In the second stage, the organic molecule is reduced. In the third stage, RuBP, the molecule that starts the cycle, is regenerated so that the cycle can continue.
One molecule of carbon is fixed at each turn of the cycle. Six turns of the cycle are required to make one carbohydrate molecule, using energy input from 12 ATP molecules and 12 NADPH molecules in the reduction step and 6 ATP molecules in the regeneration step. The final product of the Calvin cycle is glucose.
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Frequently asked questions
The Calvin cycle uses the energy from 12 ATP molecules and 12 NADPH molecules in the reduction step, and 6 ATP molecules in the regeneration step.
ATP provides the energy needed for the conversion of 3-PGA (3-phosphoglycerate) to 1,3-BPG (1,3-bisphosphoglycerate), a key step in the synthesis of glucose.
NADPH acts as a reducing agent, donating electrons to help convert 1,3-BPG to G3P (glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate), which is used to form glucose.
It takes six turns of the Calvin cycle to fix six carbon atoms from CO2 and produce one glucose molecule.
The energy used in the Calvin cycle comes from sunlight, which is converted into chemical energy and stored in ATP and NADPH molecules.











































