Photosynthesis Flashcards
autotrophic nutrition
build up of organic and inorganic molecules (eg. carbon dioxide, water) into more complex molecules eg. glucose, starch
photoautotrophs
light energy is converted into chemical energy which is stored within compounds
endosymbiont theory
photosynthetic bacteria (eg. chloroplasts) were acquired by eukaryotic cells by endocytosis to produce the first plant cell, these are then passed on through generations
chloroplast structure and function - membrane
- double membrane with space between them
- outer membrane permeable to small ions and molecules
- inner membrane has transport proteins to allow specific molecules to enter/leave
chloroplast structure and function - stroma
- gel-like matrix that fills inside of chloroplast
- contains carbon dioxide, enzymes and sugars dissolved
- contains ribosomes, loop of DNA, starch grains
chloroplast structure and function - thylakoids
- flattened, fluid filled sacs
- stacks of these make a granum
- contain photosynthetic pigments, enzymes, electron carriers
chloroplast structure and function - stromal lamellae
- connect grana and ensure they are separated
pigments in chloroplasts
chlorophyll a - blue-green
chlorophyll b - yellow-green
carotene - orange
xanthrophyll - yellow
The colour of the pigment is the one that is not absorbed and is reflected
which colours do chlorphylls mainly absorb and reflect
absorb mainly red, blue, violet
reflect mainly green
which colours do carotenoids mainly absorb and reflect
absorb mainly blue, violet
reflect orange, yellow
what happens to the wavelengths absorbed in the leaves?
they are used in photosynthesis
what is a photosystem and why do we need them?
a light-harvesting cluster of pigment molecules in thylakoid membranes
They have a large surface maximising the amount of light absorbed for photosynthesis
how do photosystems work?
- different pigment molecules arranged in funnel structure
- each pigment molecule is passed down to the next until it reaches the primary pigment reaction centre
- only chlorophyll A can participate in light reactions in photosynthesis but accessory pigments (chlorophyll b and carotenoids) can absorb wavelengths that chrolophyll A can’t
- accessory pigments pass photons (energy) to chlorophyll A broadening the spectrum that drives photosynthesis
difference between photosystem 1 and 2
- PS1 - mostly absorbs wavelengths 700nm (P700)
- PS2 - mostly absorbs wavelengths 680nm (P680)
light-dependent stage of photosynthesis (non-cyclic phosphorolation)
- light is harvested from accessory pigments and passed to primary pigment reaction centre
- photolysis of water - water is split into protons, electrons and oxygen
- photoionisation - electrons donated to PS2 and are exited to a higher energy level
- electrons are passed down electron transport chain, losing energy as they go
- H+ ions are actively pumped from the stroma into the thylakoid lumen using some of this energy, creating an electrochemical gradient
- photoionisation occurs again by PS1 using light energy absorbed and electrons are excited to higher energy level
- electrons pass over electron carriers
- ferrodoxin donates electrons and protons to NADP reducing it to make NADPH as a product
- H+ ions travel down electrochemical gradient through ATP synthase which catalyses the production of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate
- ATP and NADPH are now in stroma