What is the product of Stage 2 of the Calvin cycle?

Stage 2 of the Calvin cycle, also known as the reduction phase, primarily involves the conversion of 3-phosphoglycerate (3-PGA) into glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P). During this stage, ATP and NADPH generated from the light reactions are utilized to convert the 3-PGA into G3P through a series of enzymatic reactions.

In this stage, each molecule of 3-PGA is phosphorylated by ATP and then reduced by NADPH, effectively transforming the three-carbon compound into another three-carbon sugar, G3P. The production of G3P is crucial because it serves as a building block for the synthesis of glucose and other carbohydrates, thus playing a significant role in the overall process of photosynthesis and energy storage in plants.

Therefore, the correct product of Stage 2 of the Calvin cycle is glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, as it is a direct outcome of the enzymatic reactions that take place after the initial fixation of carbon dioxide in Stage 1.