Light independent reaction

• Stage 1

  Rubisco is responsible for carbon fixation and fixes with co2 onto the 5 carbon RUBP forming a 6 carbon unstable intermediate
• stage 2

  the 6 carbon unstable intermediate beaks down into 2 molecules of 3 carbon glycerate-3-phosphate
• stage 3

  gylcerate-3-phosphate is reduced as NADPH is oxidised. this process requires energy provided by the hydrolysis of ATP

  glycerate-3-phosphate is reduced into triose phosphate
• stage 4

  some triose phosphate may leave the cycle to form glucose and other polysaccharides(cellulose and starch)

  The majority of the triose phosphate is used to regenerate RUBP and restart the cycle
• stage 5

  ATP is hydrolysed into ADP to provide energy for the conversion of triose phosphate back into RUBP
• Light independent reaction

  Diagram