Chapter 10-Photosynthesis

Goals for todays lecture:

Understand the light reactions
noncyclic vs. cyclic electron flow
Understand the reactions of the Calvin Cycle
Understand C3, C4, and CAM photosynthesis

H2O

CO2

Light
NADP+
ADP
CALVIN
LIGHT
CYCLE
REACTIONS
ATP
NADPH

Noncyclic Electron Flow

During the light reactions,
there are two possible routes
for electron flow: cyclic and
noncyclic

O2

[CH2O] (sugar)
Primary
acceptor

Primary
acceptor

Noncyclic electron flow, the primary

pathway,

Energy of electrons

Pq
2 H+
+
1/2 O
2
Light

H2O

Cytochrome
complex

Fd
e

e
NADP+
reductase

Pc

e
e

P700
P680

Light

ATP

Photosystem II
(PS II)

1.

Photosystem I
(PS I)

A photon of light is relayed to pigment molecules until it reaches one of the two P680 chl a molecules in the PSII reaction
center.
One of the P680 electrons is excited to a higher energy state.

2.

3.
The electrons are supplied to P680 molecules to replace an electron lost to the primary acceptor.
The oxygen atom combines with another oxygen atom to form O 2.
4.

5. The electrons fall to a lower energy level and provide energy for ATP synthesis.
6.
One of the two P700 chl a electrons are excited to a higher energy state. The photoexcited electron is captured by the
PSI reaction center.

7.
8.

NADP+
+ 2 H+
NADPH
+ H+

Cyclic Electron Flow

Cyclic electron flow uses only
photosystem I and produces only
ATP

Primary
acceptor
Primary
acceptor

Fd
Fd
NADP+

Pq

NADP+
reductase
Cytochrome
complex

NADPH

Pc

Photosystem I
ATP

Photosystem II

A Comparison of Chemiosmosis in Chloroplasts and Mitochondria

Chloroplasts and mitochondria generate ATP by chemiosmosis, but use different sources of energy
Mitochondria

Mitochondrion

Chloroplast

Mitochondria transfer chemical energy from food to ATP.

Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts transform light energy into the chemical
energy of ATP.

CHLOROPLAST
STRUCTURE

MITOCHONDRION
STRUCTURE
H+

Intermembrane
space

Diffusion

Thylakoid
space

Electron
transport
chain

Membrane

ATP
synthase

Key

Stroma

Matrix

Higher [H+]
Lower [H+]

ADP + P

ATP
H+

H2O

CO2

Light
NADP+
ADP
CALVIN
LIGHT
CYCLE
REACTIONS
ATP
NADPH
STROMA
(Low H+ concentration)

O2
Photosystem II

Light

[CH2O] (sugar)
Cytochrome
Photosystem I
complex Light

NADP+
reductase

2 H+
Fd

NADP+ + 2H+
NADPH + H+

Pq
H2O

THYLAKOID SPACE
(High H+ concentration)

1/2O

Pc

+2 H+

2 H+
To
Calvin
cycle

ATP and NADPH are produced on the side

facing the stroma, where the Calvin cycle takes
place

STROMA
(Low H+ concentration)

Thylakoid
membrane

ATP
synthase ADP
+
Pi

ATP
H+

The Calvin cycle uses ATP and NADPH to convert CO2 to sugar
The Calvin cycle builds sugar from smaller
molecules by using ATP and the reducing power
of electrons carried by NADPH

The Calvin cycle has three phases:

1. Carbon fixation
H2O

CO2

Input
3 (Entering one
CO2 at a time)

Light

This reaction is catalyzed by

RuBP carboxylase (rubisco).

NADP+
ADP
CALVIN
LIGHT
CYCLE
REACTIONS
ATP
NADPH

Phase 1: Carbon fixation

Rubisco

O2

[CH2O] (sugar)

3P
Short-lived
intermediate

P
6
3-Phosphoglycerate

3P
P
Ribulose bisphosphate
(RuBP)

ATP

6 ADP
3 ADP
3

CALVIN
CYCLE

6 P
P
1,3-Bisphosphoglycerate

ATP

6 NADPH

2. Reduction

Phase 3:
Regeneration of
the CO2 acceptor
(RuBP)
5

6 NADP+
6 Pi
P
G3P

P
6
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate
(G3P)

A pair of electrons donated from NADPH

reduces 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate to glyceraldehyde-3- phosphate
1

P
G3P
(a sugar)
Output

3. Regeneration of RuBP

Input:

Output:
The plant cell can use glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate as a raw material to make
glucose and other organic molecules.

Glucose and
other organic
compounds

Phase 2:
Reduction

C3 pathway
Because the first detectable product of the Calvin cycle is a 3 carbon
molecule, PGA,
The C3 pathway is the most widespread carbon fixation pathway
(85% of known plant species).
Photorespiration

Photorespiration occurs in C3 plants during hot summer weather.

Photorespiration occurs

As much as 50% of the carbon fixed by the Calvin Cycle can

be lost through photorespiration.

RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase (rubisco)

Photorespiration consumes O2 and organic fuel and

releases CO2 without producing ATP or sugar.

Photorespiration is an evolutionary relic because rubisco first evolved at a time when the atmosphere had far less
O2 and more CO2.

C4 pathway
Some plants have evolved a modification of
photosynthesis, C4 pathway to deal with hot sunny
environments without the wasteful process of
photorespiration.

Mesophyll
cell
PEP carboxylase

Oxaloacetate (4 C)PEP (3 C)
ADP
Malate (4 C)

Bundlesheath
cell

ATP

Pyruvate (3 C)
CO2

CALVIN
CYCLE
Sugar

Vascular
tissue

CO2 is released from malate and enters the Calvin cycle.

CO2 levels are 10 times higher in the bundle sheath and this eliminates photorespiration.
Under high light and temperature,

CAM photosynthesis
CAM photosynthesis, or
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism,
utilizes the C4 pathway in a
different way.

At night, plants open stomata

During the hot day,

Study outline-Chapter 10-Photosynthesis

Light reactions
Understand cyclic and noncyclic electron flow
Understand the differences and similarities of chemiosmosis in mitochondria and chloroplasts
Understand how chemiosmosis works in the chloroplast for photosynthesis
Calvin Cycle
Know the 3 phases of the Calvin Cycle and what happens in each phase
1.
Carbon Fixation
2.
Reduction
3.
Regeneration of RuBP
Know inputs and outputs of the Calvin Cycle
C3, C4 and CAM photosynthesis
What is photorespiration? What conditions produce photorespiration?
Understand the evolutionary significance of rubisco and photorespiration.
Understand the difference between C3, C4 and CAM photosynthesis

CO2