Biology 113

Photosynthesis:Transformation of Energy

History of Photosynthesis; Light and Color

OBJECTIVES:

To understand the basic concepts associated with energy transformations,

including the Laws of Thermodynamics that govern energy transformations.

To understand the chemical nature of photosynthesis.

To understand the history of our understanding of photosynthesis.

To master basic concepts associated with the nature of light

To understand how pigments work.

To understand how photosynthesis evolved.

Energy

potential energy vs. kinetic energy

kinds of energy - thermal, light, electrical, mechanical, chemical

First Law of Thermodynamics (Law of the Conservation of Energy)

Second Law of Thermodynamics (Law of Entropy)

exergonic vs. endergonic chemical reactions; enzymes, coenzymes and cofactors

energy in open vs. closed systems

Chemical Nature of Photosynthesis

Oxidation - Reduction Reactions in General

chlorophyll

6CO2 + 12H2O ---------> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O ; Equation for Photosynthesis

light

Enzymes, cofactors and coenzymes

energy of activation

ATP/ADP the universal energy exchange system in living organisms

coupled reactions: endergonic rxn + ATP + ATPase --> exergonic reaction

History of Photosynthesis

van Helmont's willow tree experiments (1648?)

Priestley's method of "restoring air" (1771)

Ingenhousz experiments - light are green plants are necessary for restoring air (1778)

Englemann's experiment (1882)

van Niel's observations (1920's):

6CO2 + 12 H2S --------=> C6H12O6 + 12S + 6H2O purple sulfur bacteria

light

Hill Reaction isolated chloroplasts if given an electron acceptor will generate 02

Ruben and Kamen - verify that the O2 in photosynthesis comes from water (1941)

Light

electromagnetic spectrum = radiant energy

gamma - X-rays - UV - violet blue - green - yellow - orange - red - infrared - radio

10 500 nm 10

380 nm 750 nm

visible light - 380-750 nm biologically active (some use infrared & some use UV)

light as a wave phenomenon; velocity (speed of light) = wavelength X frequency

light as a particle; energy = Plancks constant X speed of light / wavelength

photons and quanta of light

Chlorophyll and light absorption

pigment - a substance that absorbs visible light

porphyrin ring (conjugated bonds uniting 4 pyrole rings around a central chlorophyll

molecule, with a long insoluble carbon-hydrogen chain which anchors the molecule)

light absorption -->heat or heat and light (fluorescence) or resonance energy transfer or

transfer of a high-energy electron (leaving an electron hole)

absorption spectrum for chl. a, chl. b, and carotenoids (carotenes and xanthophylls)

action spectrum for photosynthesis

accessory pigments in Kingdom Plantae - chl. b, carotenes, xanthophylls

motile aquatic bacteria, bacteriorhodopsin and evolution of photosynthesis

color