1.
The term “dark reactions” is a bit of a misnomer (misleading name) for the Calvin
cycle. Explain using NADPH, ATP, and the regulation of the pathway why “dark
reactions” is a misleading name for the Calvin cycle. Would you expect plants to fix
carbon at night?
“Dark reactions” is misleading because while the pathway does not use light directly, it
still needs light to function. ATP and NADPH generated from light-dependent reactions
are used in the Calvin cycle as energy and reducing equivalents, so in the dark there
would not be enough energy to make carbohydrates. Additionally, rubisco is activated
by an increase in pH, Mg, and ferredoxin which are all generated in the light-dependent
reactions. Because of the reliance on molecules created by the energy in light, one
would not expect plants to run the Calvin cycle at night (although plants in desert
climates called CAM plants do fix CO2 at night, but not the rest of the Calvin cycle).
2. Cancer cells rely heavily on the pentose phosphate pathway to proliferate. Their
proliferation requires nucleotides and fatty acids for membranes (which requires
NADPH), creates reactive oxygen species, and uses the glycolytic pathway. Why is the
pentose phosphate pathway such an important pathway for cancer cells?
The pentose phosphate pathway provides a way for cancer cells to generate
intermediates needed for growth while continuing to use glycolysis for ATP production.
Both NAPDH and ribose-5-phosphate are made during the oxidative phase. NADPH
can be used directly for fatty acid synthesis, or it can reduce glutathione that is
protecting the cell from reactive oxygen species. Ribose-5-phosphate is used in
nucleotide synthesis for the replicated DNA. Some of the ribose-5-phosphate can go
through the non-oxidative pathway to generate intermediates in glycolysis to produce
ATP for the cells.
3. All of the following statements about the pentose phosphate pathway are true
EXCEPT
A. Its two functions are to produce NADPH and ribose-5-phosphate
B. It uses glucose-6-P as a substrate when producing NADPH and CO2
C. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is the control enzyme and it is regulated by
the NADPH concentration of the cell
D. If it is producing more than twice as much NADPH as ribose-5-P, it can produce
glyceraldehyde-3-P and fructose-6-P
E. It is found in the mitochondria of liver, muscle and brain but is absent from most
other tissues of the body
Correct Answer: E
The pentose phosphate pathway occurs in most major cells of the body, in the cytosol
4. Use the following figure and the stages labeled A, B, C, D, and E to answer the
following questions. If the carbon atom of the incoming CO2 molecule is labeled with
a radioactive isotope of carbon, where will the radioactivity be measurable after one
Cycle?
A. in C only
B. in E only
C. in C, D, and E
D. In A, B, and C
E. In B and C
Answer: B
After one cycle, the carbon will have been successfully incorporated into ribulose
bisphosphate, and therefore would be radioactively traced at Step E.
5. Which of the following statements about regulation of the Calvin Cycle is incorrect?
A. The major enzymes that are regulated include Rubisco, fructose bisphosphatase,
sedoheptulose bisphosphatase, and phospho-ribulokinase
B. The light reactions pump H+ out of the lumen, raising the pH of the stroma,
dissipating the electrochemical gradient and activating Rubisco
C. Through thioredoxin, a photon of light activates the bisphosphatase enzyme
D. Rubisco activase is allosterically activated by Fd and inhibited by Ca1P
Correct Answer: B
The light reactions pump H+ out of the stroma, raising the pH of the stroma, which
activates the Rubisco enzyme. Note that there is no electrochemical gradient between
the stroma and the lumen in chloroplasts due to Mg2+ being pumped from the lumen to
the stroma.
