LIGHT INDEPENDENT REACTIONS

In the stroma

Also called the Calvin Cycle

ATP à ADP + Phosphate

RuBP combines with carbon dioxide from the air to form an unstable 6C compound
The enzyme RUBISCO catalyses the break down of the unstable 6C compound into two molecules of a 3C compound GP
NADPH is used to reduce GP to form a 3C sugar, GALP. The hydrogen for this reaction comes from the reduced NADP and energy required from ATP
For every 6 molecules of GALP produced, 5 continue in the cycle and combine with carbon dioxide to produce more RuBP using energy from ATP
The remaining GALP is converted to glucose for respiration
This is converted into sucrose for transport and polysaccharides such as starch for energy storage and cellulose for structural support
Glucose is also needed as a building block for amino acids, nucleic acids and lipids