High School

Which compound is a metabolic intermediate of the light-independent reactions in photosynthesis?

A. ATP
B. PGA
C. RuBP
D. NADPH

Answer :

Final answer:

The key metabolic intermediate of the light-independent reactions in photosynthesis is PGA (3-phosphoglycerate), which is formed from the fixation of carbon dioxide. PGA is then reduced to G3P, which can be transformed into glucose and other carbohydrates. ATP and NADPH provide the energy and reducing power necessary for these processes.


Explanation:

Light-Independent Reactions in Photosynthesis


The light-independent reactions, commonly referred to as the Calvin cycle, utilize energy stored in ATP and NADPH from the light-dependent reactions to convert carbon dioxide into organic molecules. Within this cycle, one of the critical metabolic intermediates is PGA (3-phosphoglycerate), which is produced from the fixation of carbon dioxide. PGA is subsequently reduced to form G3P (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate), a three-carbon sugar, which can be utilized to synthesize glucose and other carbohydrates.



  • RuBP (ribulose bisphosphate) is another important molecule, which acts as a substrate for the enzyme RuBisCO and is used to regenerate the cycle.

  • NADPH and ATP provide the necessary energy and reducing power, respectively, for the conversion of PGA to G3P.


In summary, the key metabolic intermediate of the light-independent reactions is PGA, which plays a vital role in carbon fixation and subsequent sugar formation.


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