Two reactions take place that produce raw materials for the dark stage:
Light energy splits the water molecules into <em>hydrogen</em> and <em>oxygen</em>
This process is called <u>photolysis </u>
The hydrogen is taken up by a hydrogen acceptor called Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) while oxygen is released as a by-product .
2 H₂O(l) --------->light energy -------> 4 H + O₂ (photolysis
)
Light energy strikes the chlorophyll molecules and sets in motion a series of reactions resulting in the production of a high energy molecule called <em>Adenosine Triphosphate</em> (ATP)
The answer is macrophages. They either actively invade these leukocytes or are phagocytosed, divide in the cells and cause lysis. The promastigotes that invade these leucocytes are transformed into amastigotes in the macrophages. These amastigotes continue attacking other healthy macrophages while others migrate to the mid gut.
