Question

Fixation, reduction, and regeneration are the three steps of what process?

Answer 1

Fixation, reduction, and regeneration are the stages of the Calvin cycle, part of photosynthesis, where CO₂ is converted into glucose in plants. RuBisCO catalyzes CO₂ fixation, after which reducing agents from light reactions create G3P, some of which becomes glucose. The cycle regenerates RuBP to continue the process.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fixation, reduction, and regeneration are the three steps of a process known as the Calvin cycle, which is a part of photosynthesis in plants. During the Calvin cycle, carbon dioxide is converted into glucose, which plants use as a source of energy and structural carbon. Here are the stages:

• Fixation: The enzyme ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBisCO) facilitates the attachment of CO₂ to ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP), forming 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA).
• Reduction: ATP and NADPH, produced by the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis, convert 3-PGA into glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P). Some of this G3P goes on to form glucose.
• Regeneration: The remainder of G3P is used to regenerate RuBP, enabling continuous CO₂ fixation.

These stages ensure a constant supply of critical metabolites like NADP*, ADP, and inorganic phosphate (iP) which are essential for the light-dependent reactions and the overall continuity of photosynthesis.