Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
I. Introduction to photosynthesis
• From the Greek
PHOTO = produced by light
SYNTHESIS = a whole made of parts put
together.
Absorption spectrum
of chlorophyll a
• Absorption spectrum of chlorophyll a:
BLUE & RED
• Action spectrum of photosynthesis closely
matches absorption spectrum of
chlorophyll a, but not perfectly (due to
accessory pigments)
Accessory pigments like chlorophyll b and
carotenoids (beta-carotene, lycopene):
• absorb light at different wavelengths,
(extending the absorption range)
• help transfer some energy to chlorophyll a
• protect cell from harmful byproducts
Chlorophyll a is the primary
photosynthetic pigment that drives
photosynthesis.
• Thylakoid
membrane Grana
• Lumen
(inside thylakoid) thylakoids
Inside a Chloroplast
1. Light dependent
2. Occur in the thylakoid membrane of
chloroplast
3. Water is split into oxygen gas (O2) and H+
STROMA
NADP+ + H+
NADPH ADP + Pi
ATP
PS II e- PS I ATPs
H+
2 H2O
O2 + 4 H+
(gas) (protons)
O2 + 2 NADPH + 3 ATP + 4 e- + 2 H+
(gas)
carboxylation
regeneration
3-PGA
reduction 3-phosphoglycerate
ATP
ADP
GAP
Glyceraldehyde 3-phos. NADPH
sugars NADP+
Pi
The Calvin Cycle
• CO2 enters the Calvin Cycle
• First product is a 3-carbon molecule: 3-PGA
(phosphoglyceric acid). That’s why it’s also
called C-3 cycle.
• Enzyme RUBISCO (ribulose bisphosphate
carboxylase/oxygenase) is the main enzyme that
catalyzes the first reactions of the Calvin Cycle.
• RUBISCO: Is the most abundant protein on
earth!
Most plants use the Calvin Cycle to
Convert CO2 into sugars.
+ 6 H2O + 6 O2
Carbon reactions: Use CO2 and chemical energy (ATP &
NADPH) to produce sugars by means of the Calvin Cycle
Limitations on Photosynthesis
• Photosynthesis is not perfect in C-3 plants,
it is only 1 - 4 % efficient
Primary e-
SUN Electron
Acceptor
e- e- ATP
produced
Photons by ETC
P700
e-
Accessory
Pigments
Photosystem I
B. Noncyclic Electron Flow
• Occurs in the thylakoid membrane
• Uses PS II and PS I
SUN 2e-
2e- P700 NADPH
Photon
ATP
P680 Photon
H2O Photosystem I
• NADP+ + H NADPH
(Reduced)
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Chlorophyll Molecules
• Located in the thylakoid membranes
• Chlorophyll have Mg+ in the center
• Chlorophyll pigments harvest energy
(photons) by absorbing certain
wavelengths (blue-420 nm and red-
660 nm are most important)
• Plants are green because the green
wavelength is reflected, not absorbed.
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VI. Summary of Photosynthesis:
1. Light energy absorbed by chlorophyll a
drives the reactions of photosynthesis.
2. Converts light energy into chemical
energy to make organic compounds.
O2 CO2 CO2 O2
PLANTS,
H2O ALGAE, SUGARS MOST LIVING H2O
BACTERIA ORGANISMS
(1701)
• Secondary consumers –
Eat primary consumers,
(carnivores)
Food chains
Environment Organisms