Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis: An Overview
 Photosynthesis is the
process by which some
organisms convert the
energy in sunlight into
the energy stored in
sugar (and other
organic molecules)
 Photosynthesis
 Autotrophs and Heterotrophs
– Autotroph = “self-feeder”
 Also known as producers
 Able to produce their own food
 Plants, algae, some bacteria
– Heterotroph = “other-feeder”
 Also known as consumers
 Cannot produce their own food
 Fungi, animals, some bacteria
Chloroplast & Leaf Structure
 Most photosynthesis occurs in
the leaves of plants
– Mesophyll is the interior
section of the leaf, where most
photosynthesis occurs
– Gases (O2 and CO2) enter and
exit the leaves through stomata
(tiny pores in leaf surface)
 Chloroplasts
– The site of photosynthesis in
plant cells
– Thylakoids – individual disc-
shaped sac
– Granum (plural – grana) – a
stack of thylakoids
– Stroma – fluid within the
chloroplast
 Photosynthesis
 The Big Picture:
– The process by which plants convert light
energy into chemical energy
– Overall equation:
 6 CO2 + 6H2O + light energy  C6H12O6 + O2
– 2 Stages:
 The Light Reactions
 The Calvin Cycle
 The Nature of Light
 Wavelength =
– distance between two
identical places on a wave
 Photons =
– discrete particles of light
 As wavelength gets longer,
energy gets lower
– Therefore, the color of light
with the most energy is
.
 The Light Reactions
 Step 1 of 2 in
Photosynthesis
 Occur in the thylakoids
of the chloroplast
 Overall Function:
– Conversion of light
energy (sunlight) into
chemical energy
(NADPH and ATP) to
drive the Calvin Cycle
 Photosynthetic Pigments
 Pigments =
– substances that absorb visible
light
– Light-collecting “buckets”
 3 main pigments involved in
photosynthesis:
– Chlorophyll a
– Chlorophyll b – accessory
pigment
– Carotenoids – accessory
pigment
 Each pigment absorbs light
energy at its own specific
wavelength
– Can catch more with 3 “buckets”
than just 1
 Photosystems
 Photosystems are made up
of pigments (to absorb light)
bound to proteins
 There are 2 photosystems:
– Photosystem I - P700
 absorbs light best at
wavelength of 700
– Photosystem II - P680
 absorbs light best at
wavelength of 680
 Named in order of their
discovery
 Photosystems
 Photosystems:
– Chlorophyll is organized
along with other
molecules into
photosystems
– “Antenna complex”
 Made up of several
hundred pigment
molecules
 Gathers light
 Working as a team!
Photosystems
 Reaction Center:
– Made up of a certain chlorophyll a
molecule and the primary electron
acceptor
 Once a photon strikes the
photosystem, an electron is
“excited” to a higher energy level
 Excited electron is passed from one
pigment molecule to another until it
gets to this particular chlorophyll a
molecule
– “hot potato”
 Primary Electron Acceptor “steals”
the electron from chlorophyll a
 Noncyclic Electron Flow
1. Photosystem II absorbs
light, and therefore loses
an electron to the PEA.
- PSII is now one electron
short of what it needs
2. This electron is replaced
by the splitting of water.
–O2 is released as a
byproduct.
 Noncyclic Electron Flow
3. Excited electron leaves PEA
and goes to Photosystem I,
travelling via an electron
transport chain.
-The electron “loses” energy as
it travels down the ETC.
- This ETC harnesses the energy
from the electron to produce
ATP by chemiosmosis.
4. When the electron gets down to
the bottom of the ETC, it
replaces an electron that has
been lost from Photosystem I
because of photoexcitation.
 Noncyclic Electron Flow
5. The PEA of PS I passes
the excited electron to
ferredoxin
- (part of ETC #2)
6. The enzyme NADP+
reductase transfers the
electrons from ferredoxin
to NADP+.
- NADPH is produced
(electron carrier)
The Light Reactions
 ***Chemiosmosis in Chloroplasts
 ATP is generated using the process of chemiosmosis
 Protons (H+) are pumped from stroma into thylakoid space
– Pumping energy comes from energy lost by electrons
– Potential energy (rock at top of hill idea)
 ***Chemiosmosis
 As protons diffuse through ATP synthase
(enzyme) in the thylakoid membrane, the potential
energy (in H+ concentration) is used to form a
bond between ADP (dead battery) + a phosphate
group
– ATP is formed (charged battery)
***Chemiosmosis
 The Calvin Cycle

 Step 2 of 2 in
Photosynthesis
 Occurs in the stroma
of the chloroplast
 Big Picture:
– Uses CO2 (from
atmosphere) and
energy (from the Light
Reactions) to make
SUGAR
 The Calvin Cycle
 Carbon Fixation:
– The incorporation of CO2 into organic material
– Making carbon “stick” – part of a complex
molecule for energy storage
 Sugar (useful) not just carbon dioxide (un-useful )
 Phase I: Carbon Fixation
 5-carbon RuBP is
attached to 1 CO2
molecule to produce
1 6-carbon molecule
– This reaction is
catalyzed by Rubisco
 6-carbon molecule
splits into (2) 3-
carbon molecules
– 3-phosphoglycerate
Phase II: Reduction
 Each 3-
phosphoglycerate gets a
phosphate added to it
from ATP (light
reactions)
 NADPH donates
electrons to convert 3-
phosphoglycerate to G3P
– G3P is a carbohydrate/
stores more energy than
3-phosphoglycerate
Phase II: Reduction
 Now…
– For every 3
molecules of CO2
that entered the
cycle, we have 6
molecules of G3P
 However…
– Only 1 is a net-
gain
– This 1 “extra” G3P
exits the cycle to
be used by the cell
 Phase III: Regeneration of RuBP
 The Calvin CYCLE
 5 G3P molecules (3-C
each) are rearranged
into 3 RuBP molecules
(5-C each)
 This conversion
requires 3 ATP
 An Overview:
Light Reactions & the Calvin Cycle
 Light Reactions:
– Provide the energy (ATP and NADPH) required
to run the Calvin Cycle
 Calvin Cycle:
– Uses the energy (ATP and NADPH) from the
light reactions and carbon dioxide (from the
atmosphere) to make carbohydrates
 You can’t have one without the other! 