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BiochemistryPremium
Calvin cycle template
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RuBP + CO₂ → 2 3-phosphoglycerate (RuBisCO) → 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate (ATP) → glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (NADPH) → ribulose 5-phosphate (regeneration) → RuBP (ATP); 3 CO₂ → 1 G3P with 9 ATP and 6 NADPH.
What the template shows
- CO₂ fixation in the chloroplast stroma: carboxylation, reduction and regeneration of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate
- ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP)
- ribulose 5-phosphate
- Fixation: RuBisCO adds CO₂ to C2 of RuBP; the C₆ intermediate splits into two 3-phosphoglycerate. RuBisCO also takes O₂ (photorespiration).
- Reduction: PGK and NADP-linked GAPDH turn 3-PGA into glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P), using the ATP and NADPH of the light reactions (Pᵢ released); 1 G3P in 6 leaves for sucrose and starch.
- Regeneration: 5 G3P → 3 ribulose 5-phosphate (aldolase, transketolase TK, sedoheptulose-1,7-bisphosphatase SBPase…); phosphoribulokinase (PRK) makes RuBP.
- Per 3 CO₂: 3 CO₂ + 9 ATP + 6 NADPH + 5 H₂O → G3P + 9 ADP + 8 Pᵢ + 6 NADP⁺ (H⁺ left out). Phosphates are drawn un-ionised.
Drawn with 68 atoms, 5 arrows, 1 shape – every one editable in MolDraw.
Sources
How to use this template
- Press Edit in MolDraw. The template opens on the canvas of the free MolDraw editor.
- Change anything: move structures, edit atoms and labels, recolour highlights or delete what you do not need.
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Calvin cycle template free?
You can preview the Calvin cycle template here and open and edit it in MolDraw for free. Downloading or exporting it is part of MolDraw Pro, together with the other premium templates.
Can I edit the Calvin cycle template?
Yes. It opens as an ordinary MolDraw drawing, so every structure, arrow, label and colour can be changed, and you can add your own content around it.
Is the chemistry checked?
Every structure is checked with RDKit and every curly arrow passes MolDraw’s electron-flow audit. The sources used are listed on this page.
Are the biochemical pathways drawn with structures?
Yes. Pathway templates show the intermediates as structures, with enzymes and cofactors (NAD⁺, FAD, ATP) on the arrows.