Photosynthesis Problem Set 2

Problem 1 Tutorial: Calvin experiment

As discovered by Calvin, when algal cells are exposed to radioactive carbon dioxide in the light for only 1 second, the compound that is most quickly and most extensively labeled with radioactive C has how many carbon atoms?

Carbon Dioxide Fixation

When algal cells are exposed to radioactive carbon dioxide in the light for only 1 second, the compound that is most quickly and most extensively labeled with radioactive C is 3-phosphoglycerate (3PG). The incorporation of atmospheric CO₂ into the biological molecule 3PG is catalyzed by RUBISCO, the most abundant enzyme in the plant world, and perhaps on the planet.

Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate Carboxylase Reaction

The Biology Project
University of Arizona
Wednesday, September 11, 1996
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