See

discussions, stats, and author profiles for this publication at: http://www.researchgate.net/publication/262852741

Lyrics of Mnemonics: The Calvin Cycle of Photosynthesis

DATASET JUNE 2014
DOI: 10.13140/2.1.4683.4246

DOWNLOADS

VIEWS

371

1,315

1 AUTHOR:
Miranda Yeoh
Selangor Matriculation College, Malaysia (Kolej Matriku
39 PUBLICATIONS 38 CITATIONS
SEE PROFILE

Available from: Miranda Yeoh

Retrieved on: 13 September 2015

DR. MIRANDA P. YEOH

SELANGOR MATRICULATION COLLEGE
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, MALAYSIA
KOLEJ MATRIKULASI SELANGOR
KEMENTERIAN PENDIDIKAN MALAYSIA

The Calvin cycle consists of three stages. They

are:

carbon dioxide (CO2) fixation,

reduction of 1,3-Biphosphoglycerate (BPG)
and
regeneration of Ribulose bisphosphate
(RuBP).

To enable students remember the Calvin

Cycle, I use a simple tune.

It is a variation of Here we go around the

mulberry bush.

The lyrics are on the top left corner, and in

red.

Step 1: Carbon fixation

Three RuBP and CO2 forms PGA,
RuBP adds CO2; so CO2 is fixed!

3 molecules of RuBP [5C]

3 molecules
CO2

6 molecules of PGA [3C]

PGA is phosphorylated;
forms 1,3-BPG.

3 molecules of RuBP [5C]

3 molecules
CO2

6 molecules of PGA [3C]

6 ATP
6 ADP
6 molecules of 1,3-BPG [3C]

Step2: Reduction of 1,3-BPG

BPG now gets reduced
to aldehyde G-3-P.

3 molecules of RuBP [5C]

3 molecules
CO2

6 molecules of PGA [3C]

6 ATP
6 ADP
6 molecules of 1,3-BPG [3C]
6 NADPH
6 NADP+
6molecules of G-3-P [3C]

One G-3-P is removed;

it changes to triose.

3 molecules
CO2

3 molecules of RuBP [5C]

6 molecules of PGA [3C]

6 ATP
6 ADP
6 molecules of 1,3-BPG [3C]
6 NADPH
6 NADP+
6molecules of G-3-P [3C]

5 molecules of G-3-P [3C]

Triose;
other

Five G-3-P still cycle around;

Isomerize as Ribulose-Phosphate

3 molecules
CO2

3 molecules of RuBP [5C]

6 molecules of PGA [3C]

12 ATP
12 ADP
6 molecules of 1,3-BPG [3C]
12 NADPH

3 molecules of Ribulose
5-Phosphate [5C]
ISOMERIZATION
5 molecules of G-3-P [3C]

12 NADP+
6 molecules of G-3-P [3C]

Triose; other

Step 3: Regeneration of RuBP

3Ribulose 5-Phosphate
is phosphorylated;
regenerates 3RuBP.

3 molecules
CO2

3 molecules of RuBP [5C]

6 molecules of PGA [3C]

6 ATP

3 ADP

6 ADP

3 ATP
3 molecules of Ribulose
5-Phosphate [5C]

6 molecules of 1,3-BPG [3C]

6 NADPH

ISOMERIZATION
5 molecules of G3-P [3C]

6 NADP+
6 molecules of G3-P [3C]

Triose; other

If our cycle goes round twice;

you will have Glucose

6 molecules
CO2

6 molecules of RuBP [5C]

12 molecules of PGA [3C]

12 ATP

6 ADP

12 ADP

6 ATP
6 molecules of Ribulose
5-Phosphate [5C]

12 molecules of 1,3-BPG [3C]

12 NADPH

ISOMERIZATION

12 NADP+
12molecules of G-3-P [3C]

10 molecules of G-3-P [3C]

GLUCOSE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I thank the Director of Kolej Matrikulasi Selangor, Vice Director, the Head of
Science Department and all lecturers and staff. You have all been most helpful and
encouraging; and this has facilitated my research efforts in Cooperative Learning,
Multiple Intelligences of Students, Independent Learning, and Innovations in
Teaching Biology. The college has provided the necessary equipment for my
research.

thank you..

Special thanks to..

All lecturers of Biology Unit, KMS.
All KMS staff: admin office, library and labs.
Most of all, I thank my family, friends and students who have been my
respondents, my photographers, advisors in video editing, my friends and my best
critics. You have contributed great insights that have enabled me to continue in
lifelong learning and to improve in my teaching and research.

MY AIM IS TO PROMOTE LIFELONG LEARNING

AMONG MY STUDENTS THROUGH ALL MY
RESEARCH THAT MAKES LEARNING MORE FUN.