What is Light-independent reaction?
[[File:Calvin-cycle4.svg|thumb|250px|The Calvin cycle]] In [[photosynthesis]], a '''light-independent reaction''' takes place in plant [[chloroplast]]s. In this process, [[sugar]]s are made from [[carbon dioxide]]. The process, known as the [[Calvin cycle]], uses products of the light-dependent reactions ([[ATP]] and [[NADPH]]) and various [[enzymes]]. Therefore, the light-independent reaction cannot happen without the light-dependent reaction. Sugars made in the light-independent reactions are moved around the plant ([[Translocation (botany)|translocation]]). This takes place in the grana region of the chloroplast. It is [[anaerobic]] (does not use oxygen). == The Calvin cycle == #A sugar (Ribulose biphosphate or RuBP) made of 5 [[carbon]] atoms combines with carbon dioxide to form a 6-carbon sugar (phosphoglycerate). An enzyme called [[RuBisCO]] speeds this reaction up. #Phosphoglycerate is [[redox|reduced]] with hydrogen atoms from the light-dependent reaction to form two [[molecule]]s of triose phosphate (each has 3 carbon atoms). [[ATP]] is needed for this to occur. #Some triose phosphate is converted (using ATP) back into Ribulose Biphosphate (which is why this is called a ''cycle''). #The rest left over is used to produce glucose. The sum of reactions in the Calvin cycle is the following: :3 {{chem|CO|2}} + 6 [[Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate|NADPH]] + 5 {{chem|H|2|O}} + 9 [[Adenosine triphosphate|ATP]] → [[glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate]] (G3P) + 2 H<sup>+</sup> + 6 [[Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate|NADP<sup>+</sup>]] + 9 [[Adenosine diphosphate|ADP]] + 8 P<sub>i</sub> &nbsp;&nbsp;(P<sub>i</sub> = inorganic [[phosphate]]) == Other websites== *[http://www.rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb2/part1/dark.htm The biochemistry of the Calvin cycle. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316092319/http://www.rpi.edu/dept/bcbp/molbiochem/MBWeb/mb2/part1/dark.htm |date=2005-03-16 }} *[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=stryer.