GENERAL

INFORMATION
Autotrophs: self feeders, producers,
produce organic molecules from CO2
Photoautotrophs: light energy
Chemoautotrophs:
oxidize inorganic
compounds
i.e. sulfur or ammonia
Heterotrophs: other feeding, rely on
photoautotrophs for food & oxygen

Leaf Structure
Chlorophyll green
pigment
Mesophyll tissue
layer
Stomata pores for
gas exchange
Chloroplasts

Thylakoids
Grana
Stroma
Membranes

Chloroplasts vary in structure, shared features:

double membrane forming the chloroplast envelope
internal membranes, intense green thylakoids (with small fluid filled spaces)
colorless fluid with enzymes surrounding thylakoids - stroma
stacks of thylakoids - grana

EQUATIONS
Summary equation:
6CO2 + 12 H20 + light energy C6H12O6 + 602 + 6H20

Net:
6CO2 + 6 H20 + light energy C6H12O6 + 602

Simplified:
CO2 + H20 + CH2O + 02

Tracking Atoms
(water is split)

Photosynthesis: redox reaction, water

split, electrons and hydrogen ions
transferred to CO2 reducing it to sugar.

OVERVIEW

LIGHT REACTIONS
Photolysis: splitting of water, oxygen waste
Photophosphorylation: generates ATP
Reduction of NADP+ NADPH

CALVIN CYCLE
Carbon fixation (incorporation of CO2 from
atmosphere)
Uses products of light reactions (ATP, NADPH)
Light independent reactions

Sunlight & Pigments

Wavelength:

Electromagnetic spectrum:

Visible light:

Photons:

Spectrophotometer:

Absorption spectrum:

Action spectrum:

distance between crests

380-750nm, detected by human eye

act like objects, fixed quantity of energy

(inversely related to wavelength)

wavelengths

range of radiation

measures light transmittance

fraction of light not transmitted

relative performance of different

Pigments: chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoids, xanthophyll,

anthocyanin

Electromagnetic Spectrum

WHY ARE LEAVES GREEN?

Chloroplast pigments
absorb blue and red
light and reflect or
transmit green light.

INSIDE A SPECTROPHOTOMETER

PHOTOSYSTEMS: organized chlorophyll, proteins, sm. organic

molecules. REACTION CENTER: chlorophyll a receives energized efrom other pigments, passes them to PRIMARY ELECTRON
ACCEPTOR: traps high energy electrons.

Light Reactions

Light Reactions

NONCYCLIC
ELECTRON FLOW

Generates equal amounts of ATP and NADPH

Noncyclic photophosphorylation

CYCLIC ELECTRON FLOW

Cyclic
photophosphorylation
No NADPH
No oxygen released
Generates more ATP for
Calvin cycle

CALVIN CYCLE

Takes place in the stroma

3 Phases: carbon fixation, reduction, regeneration

of RuBP

Requires ATP & NADPH from light rxns.

Involves carbon fixation (RuBP, CO2 & rubisco)

Produces glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (PGAL/G3P)

3 CO2 yield 1 PGAL for glucose production

Others used to recycle RuBP

Relating structure and function

1. Chloroplasts absorb light
2. Chloroplasts produce ATP
by photophosphorylation
3. Chloroplasts carry out the
many chemical reactions of
the Calvin cycle

Factors Affecting the Rate

of Photosynthesis

Light intensity increase up to a point

Light wavelength red or blue

Temperature of environment - up to a certain point

CO2 levels - increase

The factor furthest from its optimum will be the limiting
factor.
At night, light intensity is the limiting factor. When the sun
rises and light intensity increases, temperature will usually
become the limiting factor. Temperature ; CO2 might
become the limiting factor.

C4 Plants
(sugar cane, crab grass, corn)

Bundle sheath cells have chloroplasts

Preface Calvin Cycle with 4-C acid (oxaloacetic acid) system

PEP (3-C) higher affinity for CO2 than rubisco

Stomata closed - oxygen CO2

Resist photorespiration adapted to intense light & heat

C4 Leaf Anatomy

Bundle sheath cells w/ chloroplasts

Preface Calvin cycle w/ 4-C acid sys.
Resist photorespiration
Adapted for intense light & heat

CAM Plants
Crassulacean acid metabolism
Succulents (water storing plants) cacti,
pineapples
Open stomata at night, close during the day
(helps conserve water)
At night they incorporate CO2 into a variety
of organic acids (store until later)
Day light ATP & NADPH; CO2 released and
used in Calvin cycle