Topic 5: energy transfers between organisms Flashcards
describe the function of a chloroplast
where photosynthesis ocuurs
-thykaloid discs containing chlorophyll absorb light to produce carbohydrates and sugars
features of chloroplasts
-Features of chloroplasts –> starch grain, ribosomes (70S), outer and inner membrane, stroma, thykaloid, granum
thykaloid
Thykaloid –> contains chlorophyll and absorbs light
starch grain
Starch grain –> stores polymers of glucose
lamellae
Lamellae –> proteins that hold granum in optimum position to absorb light
absorbance and reflection by chlorophyll
Chlorophyll reflect green light and absorbs all other colours such as red
Accessory pigment –> maximize the amount of pigment that can be absorbed e.g carotenoids
-chlorophyll is a mixture of pigments each absorbing different wavelengths of light
Describe how you would present the data in the table as a graph
discrete data (distinct groups) = bar chart with standard deviation lines
In leaves at the top of trees in a forest. CO2 is often the limiting factor for photosynthesis. Explain why
-light = not limiting as there is now shading
-temperature = not limiting as no shading (fast reactions of enzymes in LDR)
structure of chloroplasts
Grana –> the stacked collection of thykaloid discs
-Thykaloid –> a small membrane bound sac or disc containing chloropyll
-Stroma –> a fluid filled space within the chloroplast containing an abnormally high concentration of protons (H+)
light dependent reaction
1) the first photosystem recieves light energy from the sun and uses this for photolysis (breaking w light) of water into H+ ions, O2 and electrons
2) The electrons are elevated to a high energy state allowing them to move through the photosystems giving energy to each membrane protein. It eventually recieves and is accepted by an electron accepting molecule called NADP forming NADPH (reduced NADP)
3) the energy given to each photosystem by the electron is used to actively transport protons (H+) from the stroma into the thykaloid to build a chemiosmotic gradient (conc gradient for protons)
4) The protons in the thykaloid are pumped through an enzyme called ATP synthase which provides energy to turn the head of the enzyme and force the reaction of ADP and Pi to form ATP
Calvin cycle (light independent reaction)
1) 5 C chain – ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP)
2) CO2 –> carbon fixation with an enzyme called rubisco (catalyses joining of CO2 and RuBP)
3) unstable 6 carbon intermediary molecule -> quickly breaks down to form 2 molecules of glycerite-3-phosphate (GP)
4) ATP from LDR to ADP
5) Reduced NADP from LDR to NADP return to LDR
6) triose phosphate x2 = glucose (some of triosephosphate is used to form sugars)
7) ATP from LDR to ADP and Pi
DCPIP practical
DCPIP (LDR):
-DCPIP competes with NADP as an additional electron acceptor. Reduces rate of LDR as there is less reduced NADP
-different concentrations of CDCPIP + plant cells (IV)
-DV = rate of photosynthesis measured by mass of sugar produced
-CV = light, CO2, temp, H2O
-higher conc of DCPIP the lower the mass of sugar produced
Limitations –> need balances w high resolution, less reliable - can measure glucose conc after using benedicts reagent and a colorimeter
chromatography practical
-used chlorophyll based substance
-use capillary tube to add a drop of solution to a pencil drawn baseline
-dip chromotography paper into a solvent below baseline
-remove before it reaches top and identify solvent front
-calculate Rf vaue = distance travelled by compound / distance travelled by solvent front
heat stress decreases the light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis
Explain why this leads to a decrease in the LDR
-there will be less ATP and less reduced NADP formed which are both needed in the LDR
why would a decrease in the activity of the enzyme rubisco would limit the rate of photosynthesis
-decreasing activity of RUBISCO reduces amount of carbon fixation of CO2 and RuBP to for intemediary 6 carbon unstable molecule therefore reducing amount of GP made
where is rubisco found in a cell
stroma
what part of the chloroplast does LDR occur
thykaloid membrane
define the term photolysis
splitting of water using light
why is photolysis also known as photoionisation
-loss of an electron in the prescence of light
equation for photolysis
H2O –> 2H+ + 2e- + 1/2O2
site of LDR
thykaloid mebrane
light energy in LDR is converted to
ATP and NADPH
photolysis of water is important form
generating an electrochemical gradient
describe how oxygen is produced during the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis
-oxygen is produced via the photolysis of water (splitting of water using light)
ATP is synthesised from ADP and Pi during the LDR. Describe the structures in a chloroplast that are involved in the reaction
-H+ ions pumped from the stroma and through thykaloid membrane
-thylakoid membrane contains protons that acts as electron carriers (electron transport chain)
-ATP synthase
explain how a herbicide which reduces the transfer of electrons reduces the rate of photosynthesis in weeds
-less energy re;eased as less electrons move down electron transport chain
-less H+ ions pumped out of thylakoid membrane and through ATP synthase
-fewer H+ ions = weaker electrochemical gradient
-less energy to phosphorylate the production of ATP by ADP and Pi
-less H+ ions to reduce NADP
electron transport chain establishes
chemiosmotic gradient
an electrochemical gradient for the active transport of H+ ions
describe what happens during the light dependent reaction (5)
-chlorophyll absorbs light energy
-electrons are exicted and exit the chloroplasts
-electron transport chain releases energy to pump H+ ions from stroma and through thylakoid membrane
-energy used to join ADP and Pi into ATP
-photolysis of water (write equation)
-NADP reduced by electrons into NADPH
stage 1 of light dependent reaction
a photon of light hits a molecule of chlorophyll in photosystem II. The chlorophyll molecule becomes excited and loses an electron, becoming oxidised. This is called photoionisation. The electron is transferred to the primary pigment molecule via a series of REDOX reactions
stage 2 of LDR
-Stage 2 = the organisation of the chlorophyll molecules means that energy becomes focused on the primary pigment reaction centre. This releases a high energy electron which then enters the electron transport chain
stage 3 of LDR
the lost electron must be replaced in order for the process to continue. To provide the electrons a molecule of water needs to be split.
H2O –> 2H+ + 2e- + ½O2
This only happens in the presence of light (photoionisation)
stage 4 of LDR
the electron lost from photosystem II passes down the electron transport chain via a series of REDOX reactions, with each reaction energy is lost. This energy is used to pump H+ ions from the stroma into the thylakoid space. This begins the process of chemiosmosis
stage 5 of LDR
at the same time that the chlorophyll molecules in photosystem II is being excited, the chlorophyll molecule in photosystem I is also excited. This means that it also loses an electron. This electron along with H+ ions from the photolysis of water, bind with NADP to form reduced NADP/ NADPH. The electron lost form te photosystem I is replaced by the electron lost from photosystem II
chemiosmotic theory
-the concentration of H+ ions in the thylakoid space increases
-the H+ ions then diffuse down a proton gradient via ATP synthase. The movement of H+ ions catalyses the formation of ATP
-ADP + Pi –> ATP
-this is known as photophosphorylation (addition of a phosphate molecule using light)
products of light dependent reaction
ATP
NADPH
oxygen
photosystem
Photosystem = protein containing lots of chlorophyll pigment molecules
electron transport chain
provides energy for chemiosmosis = series of proteins embedded into the membrane along which electrons can pass
reduced NADP
NADP gains H+ (from water) and e- (from chlorophyll) to be reduces
stage 1 of calvin cycle (light independent reaction)
1) CO2 is fixed by combining with a 5 carbon compound (RuBP) ribulose biphosphate. This is catalysed by the enzyme RuBISCO
stage 2 of calvin cycle
2) The 6-C compound produced is unstable so quickly breaks down into two 3-C compounds of glycerate-3-phosphate (GP)
stage 3 of calvin cycle
3) The GP is then reduced using energy from the breakdown of ATP and an electron from reduced NADP to form triose phosphates
stage 4 of calvin cycle
4) 80% of molecules of TP made are converted back into RuBP. The TP molecules re-arrange themselves to form 5-C compounds and are then phosphorylated to form RuBP
stage 5 of calvin cycle
5) 20% of the molecules of TP are used to create a 6-C compound known as glycose by binding with another molecule of TP. This can be isomerised into fructose and converted into another range of organic molecules
chemicals needed for LDR
NADP, ADP, Pi and water
describe what happens during photoionisation in the LDR
-chlorophyll absorbs light energy which causes electrons to be lost as they are exicted and move out the chlorophyll
explain why the studen marked the origin using a pencil rather than ink
ink and leaf pigments would mix
describe the method the student used to separate the pigments are the solution
-level of solvent below origin line
-remove before reaches the top end
suggest and explain the advantage of having different coloured pigments in leaves
absorbs more wavelengths for photosynthesis
explain how atrazine reduces the rate of photosynthesis in weeds
-reduced chemiosmotic gradient
-less ATP and NADP produced
-LDR slows
explain what would happen to the pH of the solution during this investigation
-pH would increase
-CO2 removed for photosynthesis
suggest why the rate of photosynthesis was low between these wavelengths of light
-less absropton
-light required for LDR
why does iron deficency result in a decrease in uptake of CO2
-less TP converted to RuBP
-CO2 combines with RuBP
how does temperature affect enzyme activity
low temperatures = low kinetic energy = less chance of collisions = less E-S complexes
high temp = enzyme denature = ionic bonds break in tertiary structure = active site changes shape = no longer complimentary
glucose + nitrates =
amino acids
photosynthesis limiting factors
CO2
H2O
light intensity
temperature
how does disruption in an electron transport chain reduce growth
less energy for chemiosmosis = less ATP and NADPH produced = less GP reduced to TP = less glucose synthesised = less other organic compounds such as amino acids
why do low CO2 levels affect the LDR
Less CO2 is fixed to RuBP = less GP reduced to TP = less NADPH oxidised = less NADP to accept electrons in electron transport chain of LDR = LDR slows
reduced TP production in iron-deficient plants
if electron transport is reduced then there is a lower chemiosmotic gradient to pump H+ ions through ATP synthase to produce ATP from Pi = less ATP and less NADP by electrons = less energy and electrons to reduced GP to TP
what is the site of photosynthesis in a plant
leaf
ATP production
ATP production in both photosynthesis and respiration is formed when protons travel down an electrochemical gradient through molecules of ATP synthase
adaptations of the leaf
-large surface area
-thin
-transparent cuticle and epidermis
-long narrow packed mesophyll cells
-stomata that respond to changes in light intensity
stroma + thylakoid
-H+ ions are pumped from the stroma using protein carriers in the thykaloid membrane
-photolysis of water increases H+ ion concentration in the thykaloid space and low concentration in the stroma
adaptations of chlorophyll in the light dependent reaction
-thylakoid membrane provides large surface area for attachment of chlorophyll/electrons
-proteins in the granumn hold in place for maximum absorption
-selectivley permeable = establish protein gradient
-contain DNA + ribosomes
dehydrogenase
Dehydrogenase is an enzyme found in plant chloroplasts that is crucial to the light dependent stage of photosynthesis. In the light dependent stage, electrons are accepted by NADP. Dehydrogenase catalyses this reaction.
carbon numbers in light independent reaction
RuBP = 5 C
GP = 3
TP = 3
Glucose = 6
explain why the light independent reaction slows down at low temperatures
-light indepednent reaction involves enzymes
-enzymes denature = less kinetic energy = less collision
how much triose phosphate is converted to RuBP
83%
which process is the source of ATP used in the conversion of GP to triose phosphate
light dependent reaction / photophosphorylsation
why were all tubes placed at the same distance from the lamp
so all tubes recieve the same amount of heat
describe the part played by chlorophyll in photosynthesis
-absorbs light energy
-excites electrons
-form ATP
explain how a lack of light caused the amount of radioactively labelled glycerate 3 phosphate to rise
-ATP and reduced NADP not formed
-less GP to form RuBP
true or false -> ATP synthase is a transport protein not an enzyme
false -> ATP synthase is an enzyme and catalyses the formation of ATP from ADP + Pi
active transport in LDR
There is a higher concentration of protons in the thylakoid space compared to the stroma. To maintain this proton gradient, there is active transport of protons from the stroma into the thylakoid space.
oxidation vs reduction
oxidation = loss of H+ ions
reduction = gain of H+ ions
no electron transport chain =
protons cant be actively transported into thylakoid space = no proton gradient in stroma = no ATP
differences between glycerate-3 phosphate and TP
glycerate = negative O while TP has a H so needs to be reduced by NADPH to gain the hydrogen
adaptions of chloroplast
-large surface area = many thylakoid
-chlorophyll pigment allows maximum absoroption of light energy
-grana surrounds stroma which allows products to move to the stroma from LDR
-chloroplast has ribosomes to make enzymes for photosynthesis
-contains accessory pigments to absorb different wavelengths of light
-thylakoid has small internal volume which maximises H+ conc
what happens when GP is converted to TP
GP is reduced
-NADPH is oxidised into NADP
-ATP is hydrolysed into ADP + Pi
how many cycles of the calvin cycle are needed to form 1 glucose molecule
6
true or false -> ATP is needed to convert RuBP to GP
true
dark =
stomata close
CO2 not used/no uptake
not used in photosynthesis
some CO2 uptake through upper surface
explain why GP remained constant
-GP being used and reformed at same rate
-GP reduced to TP
factors affecting photosynthesis
-CO2
-temperature
-pH
-water supply
-light intensity / wavelength / duration
CO2
Low CO2 affects the Calvin Cycle. If CO2 levels are low, rubisco cannot convert RuBP to GP in step one of the Calvin Cycle. This leads to accumulation of RuBP and an overall slowing of the Calvin Cycle, which results in a fall in the production of TP/GALP.
High CO2 can cause stomata to close. However, if CO2 rises too high, then some stomata begin to close, which can lead to less CO2 uptake by the plant.
The ideal CO2 concentration is 0.4%. The atmospheric CO2 concentration is 0.04%. Increasing this by ten times to 0.4% will increase the rate of photosynthesis
water
Water is needed for photolysis in the light-dependent stage. Low levels of water prevent efficient photolysis occurring during the light dependent reactions. This will disrupt production of ATP and reduced NADP, both of which are needed for the Calvin Cycle.
Water vapour and soil are sources of water. Plants can obtain water through their stomata from water vapour in the air, and also by absorbing water from soil via their roots.
light intensity
Light is needed for the light-dependent stage. Light energy is needed to excite the electrons and for photolysis of water in the light-dependent stage. Without light, there would be little ATP and reduced NADP produced for the Calvin Cycle.
Certain wavelengths of light are absorbed. Light is absorbed by the photosynthetic pigments (e.g. chlorophyll a), as we learnt before. Green light is not absorbed but is instead reflected.
role of dehydrogenase
catalyses the reduction of NADP to NADPH at end of the electron transport chain
role of DCPIP
An electron acceptor that can accept electrons at the end of the electron transport chain to prevent NADP from being reduced to NADPH.
blue to colourless when reduced
purpose of control experiments
To ensure we can see if the independent variable is the only factor affecting the investigation. In order to make comparisons.
purpose of ice
Cold reduced the enzyme activity which prevents to hydrolysis of organelles.
why did the student set up tube 1
to show light doesnt affect DCPIP
show reaction cant occur without chloroplasts
explain the advantage of using IC50 in the investigation
to compare different chemicals
explain how chemicals which inhibiti the decolourisation of DCPIP could slow the growth of weeds
-reduces energy in electron transport chain
-DCPIP accepts less electrons
-less ATP produced
-less NADPH produced
-less GP reduced to TP
the teacher said we could not draw definite conclusions = why
no error bars to show if overlap occurs
-cannot determine significance
weeds have been shown to give off small amounts of heat - why
energy released from electrons excited from chlorophyll molecules
why did the relative amounts of GP and RuBP remain the same
-temperature = limitng factor below optimum
-light intensity = limiting factor
purpose of the 3 leaf treatments
1) compare = see if open stomata reduces CO2 uptake
2) stops CO2 uptake
3) CO2 uptake cannot occur at all
advantage of light being off
prevents water loss by transpiration
maintains water potential gradient in cells
why does CO2 uptake close to zero when light is off
stomata close in dark
no diffusion gradient for CO2 into the leaf
order of electron carriers
Y X W Z
explain why low rate of photosynthesis between 525 and 575nm of light
-pigments reflected - > less absorbed
-light required for photolysis
-represents green pigment