The viewpoint proposes a carbon-neutral biochemical cycle in the cytosol of plant leaves that is up-regulated by reactive oxygen species. Cycling provides NADPH and dissipates energy to counteract oxidative stress.
Keywords: Cytosolic oxidation–reduction cycle; NADPH; energy metabolism; energy status; futile carbon cycling; glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; oxidative stress; primary carbon metabolism; reactive oxygen species; redox status.