Module 5: Energy for biological processes (Photosynthesis) Flashcards
Compensation Point:
The volume of oxygen produced is equal to the volume used for aerobic respiration.
What is meant by photosynthesis and aerobic respiration being complementary reactions?
Products of photosynthesis are the reactants of aerobic respiration vice versa.
Producers:
Photoautotrophs use photosynthesis and cell respiration. Source of biomass for food web
Consumers:
Heterotrophs, undertake cell respiration and ingest/absorb photosynthetic products.
Photosynthesis: Type of process
Anabolic process
Cell respiration: type of process
Catabolic process
Photosynthesis: Summary
Water is broken down into oxygen to release electrons for an electron transport chain. Electrons from the transport chain are taken up by hydrogen carriers. ATP is synthesised through chemiosmosis. Uses Calvin cycle to synthesise glucose.
What is the name of the cycle used to synthesise glucose:
Calvin Cycle
Is photosynthesis endothermic or exothermic?
Endothermic
Is cell respiration endothermic or exothermic?
endo -Use of Krebs of cycle to break down glucose
endo - Hydrogen carriers to release electrons for an electron transport chain
exo -Electrons from transport chain taken up by oxygen to form water.
exo -Hydrolysis of ATP
(overall exothermic)
Similarity between Respiration and photosynthesis:
ATP PRODUCTION
Both produce ATP - In photosynthesis ATP is produced via transducing light energy (photophosphorylation) and used to make organic molecules.
Similarity between Respiration and photosynthesis:
Electron transport chain
Production of ATP involves an electron transport chain and chemiosmosis in both.
- photosynthesis- electrons are donated by chlorophyll and protons accumulate in the thylakoid lumen
- Cell Respiration - electrons are donated by hydrogen carriers and protons accumulate in the intermembrane space
What is the stroma?
The central cavity that contains appropriate enzymes and suitable pH for the Calvin cycle to occur
What is a thylakoid?:
Flattened discs that have a small internal volume to maximise hydrogen gradient upon proton accumulation. ETC and ATP synthase for phosphorylation. Location of the light dependent phase of photosynthesis.
What is the grana:
Thylakoids are arranged into stacks to increase SA;Vol ratio of the thylakoid membrane.
What are photosystems:
Pigments organised into photosystems in the thylakoid membrane to maximise light absorption.
What are the lamellae
Connects and separates thylakoid stacks, maximising photosynthetic efficiency.
What is located in the stroma?
Starch, lipid, ribosomes, chloroplast DNA.
Where are chlorophyll pigments located?
They are sandwiched within lipids and proteins in thylakoid membranes.
What molecules are with the pigments:
Enzymes and electron-carrier molecules.
Which pigment is a primary pigment:
Chlorophyll a
What do antennae pigments do?
Funnel energy to primary pigments to excite electrons.
Absorption Spectrum:
Wavelengths absorped by each pigment
Action spectrum:
Overall rate of photosynthesis at each wavelength.
What is a pigment made up of?
Chlorin ring and hydrocarbon tail.
Chlorin ring:
light reacting component (magnesium centre) of chlorophyll
Purpose of hydrocarbon tail in pigment?
Anchors chlorophyll molecule to thylakoid centre.
Photosystem:
Light harvesting system that absorbs and funnels energy to a primary pigment to excite a delocalised electron which is transferred to an electron acceptor molecule.
Role of chlorophyll a:
Excite and release an delocalised electron
What do electron acceptors do in a photosystem?
Synthesise ATP
How can photosystems be differentiated?
By the wavelength of light absorbed at the photosystem’s primary pigment.
What is chemiosmosis?
The movement of ions across a partially permeable membrane down their electrochemical gradient.