C3 CYCLE
The C3 cycle, also known as the Calvin cycle, is a series of chemical reactions that take place in the stroma of chloroplasts in plants and some other photosynthetic organisms. It is the light-independent stage of photosynthesis, meaning it does not directly require sunlight but uses the energy captured from sunlight during the light-dependent reactions.
The C3 cycle is essential for fixing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into organic molecules that plants can use for growth and development. Here's a simplified overview of the cycle:
Carbon fixation: Carbon dioxide (CO2) is incorporated into a three-carbon molecule called 3-phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) by the enzyme RuBisCO.
Reduction: PGA is reduced to a sugar molecule, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P), using ATP and NADPH generated from the light-dependent reactions.
Regeneration: Some G3P molecules are used to make glucose and other organic compounds, while the remaining G3P molecules are used to regenerate RuBP, the starting molecule of the cycle.
The Calvin cycle is a complex process, but it is essential for plant life and plays a key role in the global carbon cycle.