1) List the three enzymes that are unique to the Calvin cycle along with their
substrates, products, and any co-factors that are required for their activity.
2) Sketch the detailed chemical mechanism of ribulose-1,5-bisphophate as it reacts
with carbon dioxide to generate two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate by the
ribulose-1,5-bisphophate carboxylase (rubisco) enzyme.
3) The overall equation for photosynthetic CO
2 fixation is:
6 CO
2 + 6 H2O –> C6H12O6 + 6 O2
All
of the O atoms evolved as O2 come from water; none comes from carbon
dioxide. But 12 O atoms are evolved as 6 O
2, and only 6 O atoms appear as 6
H
2O in the equation. Also, 6 CO2 have 12 O atoms, yet there are only 6 O atoms
in C
6H12O6. How can you acccount for these discrepancies? (Hint: what three
reactions are carried out during the dark reactions?)