NAIVE STEPS ALONG THE PATH

Faltering steps and missteps along the path of carbon carbon in photos ynthesis outlined the cyclic sequence of reactions common to most plan ts and autotrophic bacteria. It began with the first available long, l ived radioactive carbon and led to recognition of phosphoglycerate as the first product and ribulose diphosphate as the carbon dioxide accep tor. Identification of intermediates on the basis of Properties exhibi ted by unknown radioactive molecules isolated by paper chromatography and the kinetics of their formation outlined the path of carbon and it s intermediates.