Question

What are the roles of ATP and NADPH in photosynthesis?

Short answer

NADPH is employed as a reducing agent while ATP is used to supply energy for numerous endogenic reactions in the Calvin cycle or dark reactions.

Step-by-step solution

Introduction

Photosynthesis is the process by which green plants and some other creatures manufacture nutrients from carbon dioxide and water using sunshine.

The energy carriers are ATP (adenosine triphosphate) and Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen. ATP hydrolyzes to generate ADP, while NADPH oxidizes to NADP+, releasing energy and electrons for various metabolic processes, respectively.

Explanation

During light independent or dark processes during photosynthesis, ATP and NADPH are employed to supply energy and as a reducing agent for the fixation of carbon dioxide to glucose.

The conversion of 1, 3-biphophoglycerate to glyceraldehyde phosphate requires ATP. It's also employed in the conversion of ribulose-5-phosphate to ribulose 1, 5-biphosphate.

During the Calvin cycle's reduction phase, NADH is needed to convert 1, 3-biphosphoglycerate to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate.