5.7 Photosynthesis Flashcards
What is the equation for photosynthesis? and what is needed?
6CO2 + 6H2O ~> (1) C6H12O6 + 6O2
Needed = light energy
What are the two stages of photosynthesis?
- The light dependent reaction (LDR)
- The light independent reaction (LIR)
Describe the structure of the chloroplast.
- Double membrane bound
- Inner and outer membrane that make up envelope
- thylakoids and thylakoid membranes
- grana (stacks of thylakoids)
- lamella that join grana
- Starch grains
- ribosomes
- storma (like cytoplasm)
- circular DNA
Where does the light dependent reaction occur?
In the Thylakoid membrane of grana (in the photosystems)
Where does the light independent reaction occur?
in the stroma
Describe and explain photosynthetic pigments and what they do
photosynthetic pigments make up the light harvesting system and are embedded in thylakoid membrane and make up a photosystem.
They absorb light energy of specific wavelengths.
What are the types of photosynthetic pigment?
- Chlorophyll a (primary)
- Chlorophyll b
- Xanthophyll
- Carotenoids
Describe the two types of photosystems.
Photosystem 1 (PS1) harvests light at max wavelengths of 700nm whereas Photosystem 2 (PS11) harvests light at max wavelengths of 680nm.
What roles do the accessory pigments have? Give some examples
- They protect the primary pigment from over exposure
- Make up the light harvesting system/ cluster
- Carotenoids eg xanthophyll
What reaction comes first and why?
The Light dependent reaction (LDR) as the NADred and ATP are generated which is needed in the calvin cycle.
Describe the process of the Light dependent reaction
- Light energy excites the electrons (photo-excitation) in Photosystem 2 (PS11) into a higher energy level
- The electrons then move along the electron transport chain via electron carrier proteins. This generates energy that’s lost be electrons as they pass down the chain to pump H ions across the thylakoid membrane into the lumen in the thylakoid creating a concentration gradient
- The H ions move back across the concentration gradient (chemiosmosis) through ATP synthase and this provides energy for photophosphorylation of ADP + Pi to make ATP
- Photolysis occurs next to photosystem 2 to replace the missing electrons and this splits water into 1/2 O2 + 2e- + 2H ions
- The electrons from the etc get dumped at Photosystem 1 (PS1) and then get further excited again. They then combine with NADP and the H ions from photolysis to make NADPred which is needed for Calvin cycle
Describe the Light independent reaction (LIR)
- CO2 (1c) combines with RUBP (5c) this is carbon fixation and makes a 6c compound. The enzyme RuBisCO aids this.
- 6c gets split into 2 x GP (3c)
- GP undergoes reduction and NADPred returns to NADP also ADP gets produces and GP gets phosphorylated to make 2 x TP
- TP looses 1c to make a hexose and the other 5c make RUP
- RUP gets phosphorylated into RUBP and this is the regeneration of RUBP
- After 6 turns a hexose is made
- hexose could be starch or cellulose
- Also lipids are made from glycerols and fatty acids.
What are the uses of TP?
- to regenerate RUBP
- 1/6 each turn goes towards a carb makes a hexose after 6 turns
- also makes glycerols for lipids
What are the limiting factors for photosynthesis and there optimums?
- Light intensity (certain wavelength)
- Temperature (around 25°c)
- CO2 conc (0.4%) in atmosphere
What are the differences between cyclic and non cyclic photophosphorylation?
Cyclic : Only PS1, Only makes ATP, NO photolysis
Non cyclic: PS1 + PS11 used, makes ATP and O2 and NADPred, Has photolysis