Photosynthesis

Energy & Life

 Overview of
Photosynthesis
 Autotrophs
Plants and some other
types of organisms
that contain
chlorophyll are able
to use light energy
from the sun to
produce food.
 Energy
Energy Takes Many Forms
such as light, heat,
electrical, chemical,
mechanical
Energy can be changed
from one form to another
Energy can be stored in
chemical bonds & then
released later

Candles release energy as HEAT & LIGHT

 ATP Cellular Energy
Adenosine Triphosphate
Contains two, high-energy phosphate
bonds
Also contains the nitrogen base adenine
& a ribose sugar
 ADP
Adenosine Diphosphate
ATP releases energy, a free
phosphate, & ADP when cells take
energy from ATP

One phosphate bond has been removed

 Sugar in ADP & ATP

Called ribose
Pentose
sugar
Also found
on RNA
 Importance of ATP

Principal
Compound
Used To
Store
Energy In
Living
Organisms
Releasing Energy From ATP
ATP is constantly being used and
remade by cells
ATP provides all of the energy for
cell activities
The high energy phosphate bonds
can be BROKEN to release energy
The process of releasing ATPs
energy & reforming the molecule
is called phosphorylation
Releasing Energy From ATP

Adding A
Phosphate Group
To ADP stores Loose

Energy in ATP
Removing A
Phosphate Group
From ATP Gain
Releases Energy
& forms ADP
 More on ATP
Cells Have Enough ATP To
Last For A Few Seconds
ATP must constantly be
made
ATP Transfers Energy Very
Well
ATP Is NOT Good At
Energy Storage
 History of
Photosynthesis &
Plant Pigments
 Photosynthesis
Involves the Use Of light
Energy to convert Water (H20)
and Carbon Dioxide (CO2) into
Oxygen (O2) and High Energy
Carbohydrates (sugars, e.g.
Glucose) & Starches
The Photosynthesis
Equation
 Pigments
In addition to water,
carbon dioxide, and light
energy, photosynthesis
requires Pigments
Chlorophyll is the primary
light-absorbing pigment in
autotrophs
Chlorophyll is found inside
chloroplasts
 Light and Pigments
Energy From The Sun
Enters Earths Biosphere As
Photons
Photon = Light Energy
Unit
Light Contains A Mixture Of
Wavelengths
Different Wavelengths
Have Different Colors
 Light & Pigments
Different pigments absorb different
wavelengths of light
Photons of light excite electrons in
the plants pigments
Excited electrons carry the absorbed
energy
Excited electrons move to HIGHER
energy levels
The Biochemical
Reactions
Inside A Chloroplast
Structure of the Chloroplast
Double membrane organelle
Outer membrane smooth
Inner membrane forms
stacks of connected sacs
called thylakoids
Thylakoid stack is called the
granum (grana-plural)
Gel-like material around
grana called stroma
 Function of the Stroma
Light Independent
reactions occur here
ATP used to make
carbohydrates like glucose
Location of the Calvin
Cycle
 Thylakoid membranes
Light Dependent reactions occur
here
Photosystems are made up of
clusters of chlorophyll molecules
Photosystems are embedded in
the thylakoid membranes
The two photosystems are:
Photosytem I
Photosystem II
Photosynthesis Overview
 Light Dependent Reactions
Occurs across the thylakoid
membranes
Uses light energy
Produce Oxygen from water
Convert ADP to ATP
Also convert NADP+ into
the energy carrier
NADPH
Light Dependent Reaction
 Photosystem I
Discovered First
Active in the final stage of
the Light Dependent
Reaction
Made of 300 molecules of
Chlorophyll
Almost completely
chlorophyll a
 Photosystem II

Discovered Second
Active in the beginning
stage Of the Light
Dependent Reaction
Contains about equal
amounts of chlorophyll a
and chlorophyll b
 Photosynthesis Begins
Photosystem II absorbs light
energy
Electrons are energized and
passed to the Electron
Transport Chain
Lost electrons are replaced from
the splitting of water into 2H+,
free electrons, and Oxygen
2H+ pumped across thylakoid
 Photosystem I
High-energy electrons are
moved to Photosystem I
through the Electron
Transport Chain
Energy is used to transport H+
from stroma to inner
thylakoid membrane
NADP+ converted to NADPH
when it picks up 2 electrons &
H+
 Phosphorylation
Enzyme in thylakoid
membrane called ATP
Synthetase
As H+ ions passed through
thylakoid membrane, enzyme
binds them to ADP
Forms ATP for cellular
 Light Reaction Summary
Reactants:
H2O
Light Energy

Energy Products:
ATP
NADPH
 Light Independent Reaction
ATP & NADPH from light
reactions used as energy
Atmospheric C02 is used to
make sugars like glucose and
fructose
Six-carbon Sugars made
during the Calvin Cycle
Occurs in the stroma
The Calvin Cycle
 The Calvin Cycle
Two turns of the Calvin Cycle
are required to make one
molecule of glucose
3-CO2 molecules enter the cycle
to form several intermediate
compounds (PGA)
A 3-carbon molecule called
Ribulose Biphosphate (RuBP) is
used to regenerate the Calvin
cycle
 Factors Affecting the Rate
of Photosynthesis
Amount of
available water
Temperature
Amount of
available light
energy