Photosynthesis

BIO16

Mapua Institute of Technology

Photosynthesis
An anabolic, endergonic, carbon dioxide (CO2) requiring process that uses light energy (photons) and water (H2O) to produce organic macromolecules (glucose).
SUN photons 6CO2 + 6H2O C6H12O6 + 6O2

glucose

THE BASICS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Almost all plants are photosynthetic autotrophs, as are some bacteria and protists Autotrophs generate their own organic matter through photosynthesis Sunlight energy is transformed to energy stored in the form of chemical bonds

(c) Euglena (b) Kelp (a) Mosses, ferns, and flowering plants

(d) Cyanobacteria

Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts

In most plants, photosynthesis occurs primarily in the leaves, in the chloroplasts A chloroplast contains:
stroma, a fluid grana, stacks of thylakoids

The thylakoids contain chlorophyll

Chlorophyll is the green pigment that captures light for photosynthesis

 The location and structure of chloroplasts

Chloroplast LEAF CROSS SECTION LEAF
Mesophyll

MESOPHYLL CELL

CHLOROPLAST

Intermembrane space Outer membrane

Granum Grana Stroma

Inner membrane Stroma Thylakoid Thylakoid compartment

Chloroplast Pigments
Chloroplasts contain several pigments

Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b Carotenoids

Figure 7.7

Chlorophyll a & b
Chl a has a methyl group Chl b has a carbonyl group

Porphyrin ring delocalized e-

Phytol tail

Different pigments absorb light differently

WHY ARE PLANTS GREEN?

It's not that easy bein' green Having to spend each day the color of the leaves When I think it could be nicer being red or yellow or gold Or something much more colorful like that

Kermit the Frog

Electromagnetic Spectrum and Visible Light

Gamma rays Xrays UV Infrared & Microwaves Radio waves

Visible light

Wavelength (nm)

WHY ARE PLANTS GREEN?

Different wavelengths of visible light are seen by the human eye as different colors.
Gamma rays X-rays UV Infrare d Microwaves Radio waves

Visible light

Wavelength (nm)

The feathers of male cardinals are loaded with carotenoid pigments. These pigments absorb some wavelengths of light and reflect others.

Sunlight minus absorbed wavelengths or colors equals the apparent color of an object.

Why are plants green?

Transmitted light

WHY ARE PLANTS GREEN?

Plant Cells have Green Chloroplast s
The thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast is impregnated with photosynthetic pigments (i.e.,
chlorophylls, carotenoids).

THE COLOR OF LIGHT SEEN IS THE COLOR NOT ABSORBED

Chloroplasts absorb light energy and convert it to chemical energy

Light

Reflected light

Absorbed light Transmitted light Chloroplast

Excitation of chlorophyll in a chloroplast

e
2 Excited state Heat

Loss of energy due to heat causes the photons of light to be less energetic. Less energy translates into longer wavelength. Energy = (Plancks constant) x (velocity of light)/(wavelength of light) Transition toward the red end of the visible spectrum.

Light

Photon

Light (fluorescence)

Ground state Chlorophyll molecule

(a) Absorption of a photon

(b) fluorescence of isolated chlorophyll in solution

Molecular Game of Hot Potato

Primary electron acceptor

Photon
Reaction center

PHOTOSYSTE M

Pigment molecules of antenna

Cyclic Photophosphorylation
Process for ATP generation associated with some Photosynthetic Bacteria
Reaction Center => 700 nm

 Two types of photosystems cooperate in the light reactions

ATP mill

Water-splitting photosystem

NADPH-producing photosystem

Noncyclic Photophosphorylation
Photosystem II regains electrons by splitting water, leaving O2 gas as a by-product
Primary electron acceptor Primary electron acceptor

Photons

Energy for synthesis of PHOTOSYSTEM I PHOTOSYSTEM II by chemiosmosis

Plants produce O2 gas by splitting H2O

The O2 liberated by photosynthesis is made from the oxygen in water (H+ and e-)

How the Light Reactions Generate ATP and NADPH

Primary electron acceptor Primary electron acceptor Energy to make NADP

2
Light

Light Primary electron acceptor Reactioncenter chlorophyll

NADPH-producing photosystem

Water-splitting photosystem 2 H + 1/2

In the light reactions, electron transport chains generate ATP, NADPH, & O2

Two connected photosystems collect photons of light and transfer the energy to chlorophyll electrons The excited electrons are passed from the primary electron acceptor to electron transport chains
Their energy ends up in ATP and NADPH

Chemiosmosis powers ATP synthesis in the light reactions

The electron transport chains are arranged with the photosystems in the thylakoid membranes and pump H+ through that membrane
The flow of H+ back through the membrane is harnessed by ATP synthase to make ATP

In the stroma, the H+ ions combine with NADP+ to form NADPH

 The production of ATP by chemiosmosis in photosynthesis

Thylakoid compartme nt (high H+)

Ligh t

Ligh t

Thylakoid membrane

Antenna molecule s

Stroma (low H+)

ELECTRON TRANSPORT CHAIN

PHOTOSYSTEM II

PHOTOSYSTEM I

ATP SYNTHASE

Photosynthesis Overview

Calvin Cycle
Carbon Fixation (light independent rxn).
C3 plants (80% of plants on earth). Occurs in the stroma.

Uses ATP and NADPH from light rxn.

Uses CO2. To produce glucose: it takes 6 turns and uses 18 ATP and 12 NADPH.

Calvin Cycle

Photorespiration
Occurs on hot, dry, bright days. Stomates close. Fixation of O2 instead of CO2.

Produces 2-C molecules instead of 3C sugar molecules.

Produces no sugar molecules or no ATP.

Photorespiration vs Photosynthesis

Photorespiration
Because of photorespiration: Plants have special adaptations to limit the effect of photorespiration. 1. C4 plants 2. CAM plants

C4 Plants
Hot, moist environments. 15% of plants (grasses, corn, sugarcane).

Divides photosynthesis spatially.

Light rxn - mesophyll cells.

Calvin cycle - bundle sheath cells.

CAM Plants
Hot, dry environments.
5% of plants (cactus and ice plants). Stomates closed during day. Stomates open during the night. Light rxn - occurs during the day. Calvin Cycle - occurs when CO2 is present.