Cycle 1: Chlamydomonas and How it uses Light Flashcards
What is the function of a photosystem?
Catalyzes the conversion of light energy into chemical energy
What is the structure of a photosystem?
two complexes built around proteins that bind pigment molecules involved in light absorption
What occurs to an electron when an atom absorbs energy?
e- moves from ground state to an excited state and is farther away from the nucleus
When does the absorption of energy occur in an atom?
energy of a PHOTON is transferred to an electron within a molecule
What are the three possible occurrences of an excited electron in a PIGMENT molecule?
- electrons RETURNS to ground state and releases its energy as heat or emitting a less energetic photon (fluorescence)
- electron transfers its energy to an electron in a neighbouring pigment molecule and RETURNS to ground state
- the electron itself transfers from the pigment molecule to a nearby electron accepting molecule
What is the result of an electron transferring to a different molecule?
the e- can energize the second molecule or pump protons across a membrane to increase membrane potential
Which pigments absorb light in photosynthesis?
chlorophylls and carotenoids (yellow-orange pigments)
What is an ABSORPTION spectrum?
how much light is intercepted by the pigment (absorbed) as a function of wavelength
What is the requirement for a photon of light to be absorbed?
the energy of the photon = amount of energy required to raise a pigment electron from GROUND to EXCITED state
What is Chlamydomonas reinhardtii?
eukaryotic green alga that has an eye spot (primitive eye), chloroplasts and a nucleus and is mostly haploid
Why is Chlamy a good model system?
it is HAPLOID - haploids have one set of chromosomes so their DNA is easy to detect mutations
- has flagella (identical to cilia) so it can be studied for ciliopathies
- grows fast
- doesn’t needs much space to grow
- nuclear/chloroplast genome sequenced
What are the structures and functions specific to eukaryotes?
nucleus - stores DNA
mitochondria - supplies energy
chloroplasts - plants, photosynthesis site
endoplasmic reticulum - production and transport of proteins
Golgi apparatus - processes proteins from ER
lysosomes - gets rid of waste
What are the structures specific to prokaryotes?
cell membrane, ribosome, DNA, RNA, plasmid, pili (like cilia), cytoplasm, flagellum
When would Chlamy not be haploid?
when conditions are not favourable + and - mating types are produced
What is a haplontic life cycle?
Haploid dominant life cycle
haploid form for mitosis and growth
diploid only for fusion then meiosis occurs which returns to haploid
What is a diplontic life cycle?
Diploid dominant life cycle
diploid mitosis and growth
meiosis occurs then becomes haploid
fusion then diploid again
How is Chlamy grown in the lab?
in one mating type is growth = cell division (mitosis)
What media is Chlamy grown in?
liquid called TAP that contains macronutrients and micronutrients that are dissociated in water
Why do we need ammonium?
nitrogen – backbone of DNA and needed for proteins and amino acids
Why do we need phosphate?
phosphorus in ATP and DNA/RNA backbone
Why does a cell need iron?
to make DNA, cofactors of enzymes
Why does a cell need molybdenum?
cofactors enzymes need it to catalyze reactions
Why do we need sulfur?
acetyl coA has sulfur
why do we need magnesium?
chlamy does for conjugated chlorophyll system
What is an element NOT needed in TAP? What does this mean?
carbon »» no sugar
What is the difference between macro and micronutrients?
macro – needed in larger amounts (~10x higher concentration)