Answer :
Final answer:
In the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, RuBP (ribulose bisphosphate) serves as a key metabolic intermediate. It reacts with CO₂ and is critical for the Calvin cycle. Therefore, RuBP is the correct answer to the question.
Explanation:
Metabolic Intermediates in Photosynthesis
The light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, commonly known as the Calvin cycle, primarily use a molecule called RuBP (ribulose bisphosphate) as a metabolic intermediate. RuBP reacts with carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the presence of an enzyme called RuBisCO to initiate the cycle.
In the Calvin cycle, CO₂ is fixed into a three-carbon compound called 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA) through a series of enzymatic reactions. Both ATP and NADPH, which are products of the light-dependent reactions, are utilized to convert 3-PGA into another three-carbon compound that can eventually lead to the formation of glucose and other carbohydrates.
Thus, among the options provided—ATP, PGA, RuBP, and NADPH—the best answer that represents the metabolic intermediate in these light-independent reactions is RuBP.
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