Topic 6: Photosynthesis Flashcards
Define Metabolism.
All of an organisms reactions.
Consisting of CATABOLIC and ANABOLIC pathways
Energy conversion in Photosynthesis vs Cellular Respiration?
Photosynthesis:
- anabolic
- Light Energy -> Chemical Energy
- CO2 + H2O + Light -> C6H12O6 + O2
Cellular Respiration:
-Catabolic
Chemical Energy -> Chemical Energy
C6H12O2 -> CO2 + H2O + ATP
Define Photoautotroph?
Photosynthetic organism:
Producers; self-feeders
Use sunlight energy to create organic molecules that are used as food.
How do the following Molecules store Energy?
- Sugar/Fat
- ATP
- NADH, NADPH, FADH2
- PROTON GRADIENT
- Sugar/Fat: C-C; C-H bonds
- ATP: P-P-P
- NADH, NADPH, FADH2: pair of high energy e-
- Proton Gradient: separation of charges
Define the following terms: Leaves: Stomata: Chloroplast: Chlorophyll:
Leaves: major site of photosynthesis
Stomata: Openings on leaf that allow for Gas exchange
Chloroplast: Cell organelles of photosynthesis
Chlorophyll: Green pigment; light harvesting chemical found in thylakoid Membrane
What is the purpose of photosynthesis? What are the reactants and products of the rx?
Purpose: to convert light energy to chemical energy. Energy Transformation
Light energy + CO2 + H2O -> O2 + C6H12O6
What are the two major processes of photosynthesis?
1: light reactions
2: calvin cycle
Light reactions:
Where?
What happens?
Site: Thylakoid Membrane and Space
What Happens: Sunlight is absorbed by chlorophyll in chloroplasts
- energy is converted into ATP and NADPH
Calvin Cycle:
Where?
What?
Site: Stroma
What: Synthetic Cycle where CO2 is incorporated into more complicated carbon molecules through Carbon Fixation coupling
CO2 -> C6H12O6
Requires energy (endergonic). Uses atp and nadph from light rxn’s
There are two chlorophylls
a vs b
How are chorophylls arranged in cell?
Chlorophyll a:
Main photosynthetic pigment
-light is absorbed by specific atoms within the porphyrin ring of chlorophyll a
-other pigments absorb & transfer energy to Chl ‘a’
Chlorophyll are inserted in the thylakoid membrane (has hydrocarbon tail) and are anchored b/c of hydrophobic sidechain
Where and how is light absorbed?
- Light absorbed by specific atoms in porphyrin ring of chlorophyll a
- excites e- (become less stable (higher energy) e- move to higher orbital
- When e- return to “ground state” absorbed energy is released and trasnferred
There are three options for an excited e- what are they?
- e- returns to ground state by emitting a less energetic photon or releasing energy as heat * lose absorbed energy
- The e- returns to ground state as its energy is transferred to an e- in a neighbouring pigment - funnels to final destination like dominoes
- The high energy e- is transferred to another molecule, an e- acceptor and e- in chlorophyll is replaced
What are photosystems?
Light harvesting unit located in thylakoid membranes - made of chlorophyll and proteins arranged in an antenna complex: allows photosystem to harvest light energy cooperatively - funnels energy to one “special” chlorophyll molecule called the reaction centre chl. molecule
Difference between two types of photosystems?
Photosystem 1 (PS1): Absorbs light at 700nM
Photosystem 2 (PS2) Absorbs light at 680nM
e- go from ps2 to ps1
What is a REDOX Reaction?
Oxidation - reduction reaction
- > Chemical rxn where there is a transfer of e- from one ractant to another
- e- carry energy used by cell