Energy transfers Flashcards
light-dependent reaction
light is absorbed by chlorophyll and a water molecule is split (photolysis)
- takes place in thylakoid membrane
light-independent reaction
carbon dioxide is synthesised into useful organic compounds.
- takes place in stroma.
equation for photosynthesis
carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen
6CO2 + 6H2O -> C6H12O6 +6O2
Adaptations of plants for photosynthesis
- large surface area
- minimal overlapping to avoid blocking sunlight
- thin -> short diffusion distance
- transparent cuticle and epidermis to allow light through
- long narrow pier mesophyll cell packed with chloroplasts
- stomata for gas exchange
- stomata open and close in response to light intensity
Structure and role of chloroplasts
- large surface area of thylakoid membranes
- proteins in grant hold the chlorophyll in a very precise manner for maximum light absorption
- ATP synthase channels in grana membranes which catalyse production of ATP
- grana membranes have enzymes attached for ATP production.
Process of light-dependent reaction
- PSII
- chlorophyll absorbs light and excites the electrons. They leave and go to primary electron acceptor at higher energy state.
- Photolysis - splits water into hydrogen - protons + electrons, oxygen. Protons go to the proton pump and electrons replace the lost electrons in chlorophyll
- electrons move from higher energy state to lower energy state through the electron transfer chain.
- the ‘lost’ energy is used to pump protons from the stroma to the thylakoid. Accumulation of protons creates the proton gradient.
- PSI
- Charged protons move out through ATP synthase to create ATP (Chemiosmosis) and are taken up by NADP = reduced.
- Chlorophyll absorbs more light and electrons leave.
- Creates NADPH
Photolysis equation
2H2O -> 4H+ + 4e + O2
The main components in light dependent reaction that are needed are:
NADP, ADP, Pi, and water
Process of light independent reaction
CALVIN CYCLE
- CO2 diffuses into leaf, dissolved in water and diffuses into stroma of chloroplast
- It reacts with RuBP, catalysed by rubisco
- 2 glycerine 3-phosphate molecules are formed (GP)
- Reduced NADP reduces this into 2 triode phosphate (TP) using energy from ATP (GP->TP)
- The NADP is re-formed and goes back to light-dependent reaction to be reduced again.
- Some TP molecules are converted to organic substances for use of plant e.g. glucose.
- Most are used to regenerate RuBP using ATP from light-dependent reaction.
The stroma are adapted to carrying this reaction through:
- all needed enzymes are found in the stroma, which is membrane bound in the chloroplast
- stroma fluid surrounds the grana, so the products of light-dependent reaction are easily available.
- contains DNA and ribosomes so needed proteins are easily manufactured.
light compensation point
the point where the CO2 released during respiration equals that taken up during photosynthesis.
the rate of photosynthesis can be measured by
measuring the volume of oxygen produced by the apparatus.
- Ensure no air bubble.
- water bath to maintain constant temperature
- Potassium hydrogen carbonate collusion used to provide source of CO2.
- oxygen released by plant during photosynthesis collects in funnel end of capillary tube; drawn gently and measured.
- repeat 4-5 times
factors affecting photosynthesis.
- light intensity
- carbon dioxide concentration
- temperature
- water
respiration transfers energy stored in
complex organic molecules, such as glucose, to ATP by phosphorylation.
there are 2 types of respiration
- aerobic respiration - requires oxygen; produces water, carbon dioxide and many molecules of ATP
- anaerobic respiration - takes place in absence of oxygen, produces a small amount of ATP. In plants and fungi it also produces carbon dioxide and ethanol; animals produce lactate.
there are 4 stages in aerobic respiration;
- glycolysis - 6-carbon glucose split into 2 mols of 3-carbon pyruvate
- link reaction - 3-carbon pyruvate is oxidised into carbon dioxide and acetyl coenzyme A
- Krebs cycle - acetyl coenzyme A enters a cycle of redox reaction that produce ATP and a large number of electrons stored in reduced NAD and reduced FAD.
- oxidative phosphorylation - use of electrons, associated with reduced NAD and FAD, released from Krebs cycle to synthesise ATP with water as by-product.
respiration
the metabolic reaction where energy is released in the form of ATP from glucose.
Glycolysis
the initial stage of both types of respiration. Occurs in cytoplasm and is the process by which a hexose sugar, usually glucose, is split into 2 mols of 3-carbon mol pyruvate.
glycolysis is divided into 4 stages:
- Phosphorylation of glucose to glucose phosphate: 2 phosphate mols added to glucose to make it more reactive, they come from the hydrolysis of 2 ATP mols. Lowers activation energy for enzyme-controlled.
- splitting of phosphorylated phosphate: glucose split into 2 triodes phosphate (3C).
- oxidation of triode phosphate: hydrogen removed from TP (glycerine 3 phosphate) and transferred to NAD to form reduced NAD.
- production of ATP: diode phosphate is converted into pyruvate and 2 ATP molecules are regenerated from ADP in the process.
glucose -> glucose phosphate -> triode phosphate -> pyruvate
link reaction
- pyruvate oxidised to acetate and loses a carbon dioxide molecules and hydrogen ions that form reduced NAD.
- Acetate combines with coenzyme A to produce acetyl coenzyme A.
pyruvate + NAD + CoA –> acetyl CoA + reduced NAD + CO2.
krebs cycle
- 2-carbon acetyl coenzyme A from link reaction combines with 4-carbon mol to produce 6 carbon mol.
- in a series of reactions this 6 carbon mol loses carbon dioxide and hydrogen to give 4 carbon mol and single mol of ATP produced as a result of substrate-level phosphorylation.
- 4 carbon mol can now combine with new molecule of acetyl coenzyme A to begin the cycle begin.
krebs and link reaction produce
- reduced coenzymes NAD and FAD
- one mol of ATP
- 3 carbon dioxides.
coenzymes
not enzymes, they’re molecules that some enzymes require in order to function. They play a major role in photosynthesis and respiration, where they carry hydrogen atoms from one molecule to another.
NAD - respiration
FAD - krebs cycle
NADP - photosynthesis
oxidative phosphorylation
- hydrogen atoms produced during glycolysis and Krebs cycle combine with coenzymes NAD and FAD.
- reduced NAD and FAD donate the electrons of hydrogen atoms they are carrying to first mol in ETC.
- electrons pass along chain of electron transfer carrier mols in a series of oxidation-reduction reactions. As electrons flow along the chain, energy they release causes active transport of protons across inter mitochondrial membrane and into inter-membranal space.
- protons accumulate inter-membranal space before they diffuse back into mitochondrial matrix through ATP synthase channels embedded in inner mitochondrial membrane.
- at end of chain the electrons combine with these protons and oxygen to form water. Oxygen is therefore the final acceptor of electrons in ETC.