Topic 5A - Photosynthesis and respiration ARN * Flashcards
Photosynthesis, respiration and ATP photosynthesis limiting factors in photosynthesis Photosynthesis experiments respiration aerobic respiration respiration experiments
what do plants need energy for?
photosynthesis active transport - to take in minerals via their roots DNA replication cell division protein synthesis
what do animals need energy for?
muscle contraction maintenance of body temperature active transport DNA replication cell division protein synthesis
what is photosynthesis?
the process where energy from light is used to make glucose from H2O and CO2
(the light energy is converted to chemical energy in the form of glucose)
what is the overall equation for photosynthesis?
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy –> C6H12O6 + 6O2
how do animals obtain glucose?
by eating plants (or other animals) then respire the glucose to release energy
what happens to energy respiration?
plant and animal cells release energy from glucose.
this energy is used to power all the biological processes in a cell
what are the 2 types of respiration?
aerobic respiration - using oxygen
anaerobic respiration - without oxygen
what is the overall equation for aerobic respiration?
C6H12O6 + 6O2 –> 6CO2 + 6H2O + energy
what does anaerobic respiration produce?
in plants and yeast - produces ethanol and carbon dioxide and releases energy.
in humans - produces lactate and releases energy
how does a cell get energy from glucose?
the energy released from glucose is used to make ATP
ATP carries energy around the cell to where it’s needed via diffusion
how is ATP made?
it’s synthesised via a condensation reaction between ADP and inorganic phosphate using energy from an energy releasing reaction e.g. respiration
the energy is stored as chemical energy in the phosphate bond. the enzyme ATP synthase catalyses this reaction
What happens to ATP once it diffuses to where it is needed?
it’s hydrolysed back into ADP and inorganic phosphate. chemical energy is released from the phosphate bond and used by the cell. ATP hydrolase catalyses this reaction.
the ADP and inorganic phosphate are recycled and the process starts again
what specific properties does ATP have that makes it a good energy source?
stores or releases small, manageable amounts of energy small, soluble molecule easily broken down quickly re-made make other molecules more reactive can't pass out of the cell
how does ATP storing or releasing small amounts of energy make it a good energy source?
no energy is wasted as heat
how does ATP being small and soluble make it a good energy source?
it can be easily transported around the cell
how does ATP being easily broken down make it a good energy source?
energy can be easily released instantaneously
how can ATP make other molecules more reactive?
by transferring one of its phosphate groups to the molecule (phosphorylation)
how does ATP not being able to pass out of the cell make it a good energy source?
the cell always has an immediate supply of energy
what is a metabolic pathway?
a series of small reactions controlled by enzymes e.g. respiration and photosynthesis
what is phosphorylation?
adding phosphate to a molecule e.g. ADP is phosphorylated to ATP
what is photophosphorylation?
adding phosphate to a molecule using light
what is photolysis?
the splitting (lysis) of a molecule using light (photo) energy
what is photoioisation?
when light energy ‘excites’ electrons in an atom or molecule, giving them more energy and causing them to be released. the release of electrons causes the atom or molecule to become a positively-charged ion.
what is hydrolysis?
the splitting (lysis) of a molecule using water (hydro)
what is decarboxylation?
the removal of carbon dioxide from a molecule
what is dehydrogenation?
the removal of hydrogen from a molecule
what are REDOX reactions?
reactions that involve oxidation and reduction.
oxidation of one molecule always involves reduction of another molecule
what is reduction?
if something is reduced it has gained electrons and may have gained hydrogen or lost oxygen
what is oxidation?
if something is oxidised it has lost electrons, and may have lost hydrogen or gained oxygen
what is a coenzyme?
a molecule that aids the function of an enzyme
how do coenzymes work?
by transferring a chemical group from one molecule to another
what is NADP?
a coenzyme used in photosynthesis.
it transfers hydrogen from one molecule to another - this means it can reduce (give hydrogen to) or oxidise (take hydrogen from) a molecule
what are examples of coenzymes used in respiration?
NAD
coenzyme A
FAD
what do NAD and FAD do?
transfer hydrogen from one molecule to another - this means they can reduce or oxidise a molecule
what does coenzyme A do?
transfer acetate between molecules
what are chloroplasts?
flattened organelles surrounded by a double membrane. they are found in plant cells
how are the thylakoids structured within the chloroplasts?
they are stacked up in the chloroplasts into structures called grana. the grana are linked together by bits of thylakoid membrane called lamellae
how do chloroplasts absorb light energy?
they contain photosynthetic pigments. these are coloured substances that absorb the light energy needed for photosynthesis. the pigments are found in the thylakoid membranes - they’re attached to proteins. the protein and pigment is called a photosystem
what wavelength does each photosystem absorb best?
PSI - 700 nm
PSII - 680 nm
what is the stroma?
a gel-like substance contained within the inner membrane of the chloroplast and surrounding the thylakoids.
what does the stroma contain?
enzymes, sugars and organic acids
what happens to carbohydrates produced by photosynthesis?
they are stored as starch grains in the stroma
what are the 2 stages of photosynthesis?
the light-dependent reaction
the light-independent reaction
where does the light dependent reaction take place?
it takes place in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplasts
what happens in the LDR?
chlorophyll is photoionised
ATP and NADPH is formed
H2O is oxidised to O2
what happens when chlorophyll is photoionised?
light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll in the photosystems
the light energy excites electrons in the chlorophyll, leading to eventual release from the molecule
how is ATP and NADPH formed in the LDR?
some of the energy from the released electrons is used to add a phosphate group to ADP and some is used to reduce NADP.
what is the light-independent reaction also known as?
the Calvin cycle
where does the Calvin cycle take place?
it takes place in the stroma of the chloroplast
what happens to the products of the LDR in the Calvin cycle?
ATP transfers energy and NADPH transfers hydrogen to make simple sugars from CO2
what is the energy from the photoionisation of chlorophyll in the LDR used for?
phosphorylation
making reduced NADP from NADP
photolysis
what is phosphorylation?
making ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate
what is photolysis?
splitting water into protons (H+ ions), electrons and oxygen
how are photosystems in the thylakoid membrane linked?
they are linked by electron carriers
what are electron carriers?
proteins that transfer electrons
what is an electron transport chain?
a chain of proteins through which excited electrons flow. its formed from the photosystems and electron carriers
what are the steps of non-cyclic photophosphorylation?
- light energy excites electrons in chlorophyll
- photolysis of water produces protons (H+ ions), electrons and O2
- energy from the excited electrons make ATP
- energy from excited electrons generates reduced NADP
what happens when light energy excites electrons in chlorophyll?
light energy is absorbed by PSII
the light energy excites electrons in chlorophyll
the electrons move to a higher energy level
these high-energy electrons are released from the chlorophyll and move down the electron transport chain to PSI