Answer :
Final answer:
In the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis, both RuBP and PGA serve as important metabolic intermediates. RuBP is the starting molecule that reacts with CO2 to form PGA. While NADPH is crucial in the process, it is not considered a metabolic intermediate of the Calvin cycle itself.
Explanation:
Metabolic Intermediates in Photosynthesis
The metabolic intermediates of the light-independent reactions (also known as the Calvin cycle) in photosynthesis include a variety of compounds, among which RuBP (Ribulose bisphosphate) and PGA (3-phosphoglycerate) are pivotal.
In the Calvin cycle, carbon dioxide is fixed into RuBP to ultimately form PGA. Therefore, both PGA and RuBP are considered metabolic intermediates in this process. However, when specifically referring to the compound that is a direct product of the initial fixation of CO2, PGA is the primary intermediate formed right after RuBP is converted by the enzyme ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO).
NADPH is an electron carrier generated in the light-dependent reactions and is not a metabolic intermediate of the Calvin cycle itself. Hence, the correct answers to the question about which compound represents a metabolic intermediate would be both PGA and RuBP.
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