Answer :
Final answer:
In the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, PGA (3-phosphoglycerate) serves as a key metabolic intermediate. It is produced during the Calvin cycle when carbon dioxide is fixed. ATP and NADPH are used, but they are not intermediates in this context.
Explanation:
Metabolic Intermediate of the Light-Independent Reactions
The light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, also known as the Calvin cycle, utilize several key compounds in the process of converting carbon dioxide into organic molecules. Among the options provided: ATP, PGA, RuBP, and NADPH, the compound that best qualifies as a metabolic intermediate is PGA (3-phosphoglycerate).
PGA is formed during the fixation of carbon dioxide in the Calvin cycle and is a three-carbon molecule that serves as an intermediate in the synthesis of glucose and other carbohydrates. RuBP (ribulose bisphosphate) is essential as it reacts with CO₂ to start the cycle, but it is not a product metabolized through multiple steps in the cycle; rather, it is a substrate. Conversely, ATP and NADPH are energy carriers produced in the light-dependent reactions and are utilized during the Calvin cycle, but they do not serve as intermediates themselves.
Conclusion
Therefore, the correct answer to the question regarding the metabolic intermediate of the light-independent reactions is PGA.
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