Photosynthesis Flashcards
First step of light dependent stage (non-cyclic photo phosphorylation)
- photons of light absorbed by chlorophyll in photosystem 2 (PS2)
Second step of light dependant stage (non-cyclic photo phosphorylation)
- increases kinetic energy in electrons and chlorophyll undergoes photoionisation
Third step of light dependant stage (non-cyclic photo phosphorylation)
- photosystems are linked by proteins called electron carriers and form electron transport chain. Electrons leave chlorophyll and move to photosystem 1 (PS1)
Forth step of light dependant stage (non-cyclic photo phosphorylation)
- light energy can split water by photolysis forming protons (H+), electrons and oxygen. Electrons can be used to replace those lost in photosystem 2 (PS2)
Fifth step of light dependant stage (non-cyclic photo phosphorylation)
- electrons lose energy as they move down the electron transport chain. This energy is used to actively pump protons against their electrochemical gradient from the stroma to the thylakoid space
Sixth step of light dependant stage (non-cyclic photo phosphorylation)
- hydrogen ions move down the concentration gradient back out into the stroma via the embedded enzyme ATP synthase. This allows ATP to form
Seventh step of light dependant stage (non-cyclic photo phosphorylation)
- steps 1 and 2 are repeated in photosystem 1 with electrons leaving the chlorophyll molecules of photosynthesis 1 (PS1)
Eighth step of light dependant stage (non-cyclic photo phosphorylation)
- Using enzyme NADP reductase, electrons from photosystem 1 (PS1) are transferred to NADP along with a proton from the stroma to form NADPH. Electrons from photosystem 2 (PS2) that moved along the electron transport chain replace those lost from photosystem 1 (PS1)
First step of light independent stage (cyclic photo phosphorylation/calvin cycle)
- carbon dioxide enters chloroplast by diffusion and passes into the stroma, combining with intermediate compound ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) and catalysed by enzyme rubisco in carbon fixation producing 2 molecules of glycerate 3 phosphate (G3P)
Why are large quantities of enzyme rubisco required in calvin cycle
- slow process
Second step of light independent stage (cyclic photo phosphorylation/calvin cycle)
- Energy from ATP and hydrogen from reduced NADP (from light dependant stage) is used to reduce glycerate 3 phosphate (G3P) to form triose phosphate (TP)
Third step of light independent stage (cyclic photo phosphorylation/calvin cycle)
- 1/6 of triose phosphate (TP) is used to make glucose phosphate and in turn, glucose.
- condensation of many glucose molecules in the stroma forms starch
- glycerol is synthesised from triose phosphate (TP) and fatty and amino acids from glycerate 3 phosphate (G3P)
Forth step of light independent stage (cyclic photo phosphorylation/calvin cycle)
- 5/6 of triose phosphate must be used to regenerate ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) using ATP
Limiting factors of photosynthesis
- Carbon dioxide concentration
- Light intensity
- Temperature
Limiting factor definition
- something present in the environment in such short supply that it restricts life processes, slowing rate of reaction