Which molecule leaves the Calvin cycle to be used in biosynthesis for the plant?

Prepare for your Leaving Certificate Photosynthesis Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Which molecule leaves the Calvin cycle to be used in biosynthesis for the plant?

Explanation:
The molecule that leaves the Calvin cycle for biosynthesis is glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Inside the cycle, CO2 is fixed and ultimately converted into a three-carbon sugar called glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate using ATP and NADPH. This triose phosphate is the exportable product, and it moves to the cytoplasm where it serves as a building block for making sugars like sucrose and starch and for other biosynthetic pathways. Each turn of the cycle produces one molecule of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate that can exit, while the rest are used to regenerate RuBP so the cycle can continue. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) is the carbon dioxide acceptor that gets regenerated; it isn’t exported for biosynthesis. 3-phosphoglycerate is an earlier intermediate that remains in the cycle until it is reduced to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Glucose is a downstream product formed from glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate through additional steps, not the molecule that directly leaves the cycle in a single export event.

The molecule that leaves the Calvin cycle for biosynthesis is glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Inside the cycle, CO2 is fixed and ultimately converted into a three-carbon sugar called glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate using ATP and NADPH. This triose phosphate is the exportable product, and it moves to the cytoplasm where it serves as a building block for making sugars like sucrose and starch and for other biosynthetic pathways. Each turn of the cycle produces one molecule of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate that can exit, while the rest are used to regenerate RuBP so the cycle can continue.

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) is the carbon dioxide acceptor that gets regenerated; it isn’t exported for biosynthesis. 3-phosphoglycerate is an earlier intermediate that remains in the cycle until it is reduced to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate. Glucose is a downstream product formed from glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate through additional steps, not the molecule that directly leaves the cycle in a single export event.

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy