Download Other Pathways of Photosynthesis

NAME:
Photosynthetic Organisms
A. Photosynthesis Transforms
B. Organic molecules built by photosynthesis provide both the
and
.
C. Plants use the raw materials:
and
D.
carry out photosynthesis
E.
and other pigments involved in absorption of
solar energy reside within
of chloroplasts
Plants as Solar Energy Converters
A. Solar Radiation - Only
of solar radiation that hits the earth’s
atmosphere reaches surface;
.
B. Photosynthetic Pigments - Pigments found in chlorophyll absorb various portions of
visible light; absorption spectrum.
1. Two major photosynthetic pigments are
and
.
2. Both chlorophylls absorb
wavelengths best.
3. Very little
light is absorbed;
; this
is why leaves appear
.
4.
are yellow-orange pigments which absorb
light in
regions.
5. When chlorophyll breaks down in fall, the
pigments
in leaves show through.
C. Absorption and action spectrum - A
amount of light that passes through a sample of pigments.
measures the
1) As different wavelengths are passed through, some are
.
2) Graph of percent of light absorbed at each wavelength is
.
3) Photosynthesis produces oxygen;
.
4) Oxygen production and, therefore, photosynthetic activity is measured
for plants under each specific wavelength; plotted on a graph, this
produces an
.
5) Since the action spectrum resembles
, this indicates that chlorophylls contribute to photosynthesis.
D. Photosynthetic Reaction
1. In 1930 C. B. van Niel showed that
and not from CO2.
2. The net equation reads:
given off by photosynthesis
.
E. Two Sets of Reactions in Photosynthesis
1. Light reactions cannot take place unless light is present. They are
b. Chlorophyl within thylakoid membranes absorbs solar energy and
.
c. Energized electrons
the electron transport system;
energy is captures and used for
.
d. Energized electrons are also taken up by
becoming
.
2. Calvin Cycle Reactions
a. These reactions take place in the
; can occur in either
the
b. These are synthesis reactions that use
and
to reduce
.
Light Reactions
A. Two Pathways
1. Two electron pathways operate in the thylakoid membrane: the
pathway and the
pathway.
2. Both pathways produce
but only the
also produces
.
3. ATP production during photosynthesis is sometimes called
; therefore these pathways are also known as cyclic and noncyclic
.
B. Noncyclic Electron Pathway (*SPLITS WATER, PRODUCES NADPH &
ATP)
1. This pathway occurs in the thylakoid membranes and requires participation
of two light-gathering units: photosystem I (PS I) and photosystem II (PS II).
2. A photosystem is a photosynthetic unit comprised of a pigment complex
and electron acceptor; solar energy is absorbed and high-energy electrons are
generated.
3. Each photosystem has a pigment complex composed of green chlorophyll a
and chlorophyll b molecules and orange and yellow accessory pigments (e.g.,
carotenoid pigments).
4. Absorbed energy is passed from one pigment molecule to another until
concentrated in reaction-center chlorophyll a.
5. Electrons in reaction-center chlorophyll a become excited; they escape to
electron-acceptor molecule.
6. The noncyclic pathway begins with PSII; electrons move from H2O through
PS II to PS I and then on to NADP+.
7. The PS II pigment complex absorbs solar energy; high-energy electrons (e) leave the reaction-center chlorophyll a molecule.
8. PS II takes replacement electrons from H2O, which splits, releasing O2 and
H+ ions:
9. Oxygen is released as oxygen gas (O2).
10. The H+ ions temporarily stay within the thylakoid space and contribute to a
H+ ion gradient.
11. As H+ flow down electrochemical gradient through ATP synthase
complexes, chemiosmosis occurs.
12. Low-energy electrons leaving the electron transport system enter PS I.
13. When the PS I pigment complex absorbs solar energy, high-energy
electrons leave reaction-center chlorophyll a and are captured by an electron
acceptor.
14. The electron acceptor passes them on to NADP+.
15. NADP+ takes on an H+ to become NADPH: NADP+ + 2 e- + H+
NADPH.
16. NADPH and ATP produced by noncyclic flow electrons in thylakoid
membrane are used by enzymes in stroma during light-independent reactions.
C. Cyclic Electron Pathway
1. The cyclic electron pathway begins when the PS I antenna complex
absorbs solar energy.
2. High-energy electrons leave PS I reaction-center chlorophyll a molecule.
3. Before they return, the electrons enter and travel down an electron
transport system.
a. Electrons pass from a higher to a lower energy level.
b. Energy released is stored in form of a hydrogen (H+) gradient.
c. When hydrogen ions flow down their electrochemical gradient through
ATP synthase complexes, ATP production occurs.
d. Because the electrons return to PSI rather than move on to NADP+, this is
why it is called cyclic and also why no NADPH is produced.
D. ATP Production (
)
1. The thylakoid space
acts as a reservoir for
H+ ions; each time
is split, two
remain.
2. Electrons move
carrier-to-carrier,
giving up energy used
to pump H+ from the
into the
3. Flow of H+ from high
to low concentration
across thylakoid
membrane provides energy
to produce
from
by using an ATP synthase
enzyme
ons
The Calvin Cycle Reactions (also called the Light Independent or Dark
Reactions)
A. Overview
1. The Calvin Cycle is a series of reactions producing
.
2. The cycle is named for Melvin Calvin who used a radioactive isotope of
carbon to trace the reactions.
3. The Calvin Cycle includes: carbon dioxide
, carbon dioxide
and
of RuBP.
B. Fixation of Carbon Dioxide
1. CO2 fixation is the
to an organic
compound called
.
2. RuBP (ribulose bisphosphate) is a
that
combines with carbon dioxide.
3. The enzyme RuBP carboxylase (
) speeds this reaction;
this enzyme comprises
of the protein content of
chloroplasts, probably since it is a slow enzyme.
C. Reduction of Carbon Dioxide
1. With reduction of carbon dioxide, a
(3-phosphoglycerate[C3])
molecule forms.
2. Each of two PGA molecules undergoes reduction to
in
two steps.
3. Light-dependent reactions provide
(electrons) and
(energy) to reduce
to
.
D. Regeneration of RuBP
1. Every
turns of Calvin cycle,
molecules of PGAL are
used to re-form three molecules of
.
2. Every three turns of Calvin cycle, there is net gain of
E. The Importance of the Calvin Cycle
1.
, the product of the Calvin Cycle can be converted into all
sorts of other molecules.
2.
is one result of PGAL metabolism; it is a
common energy molecule.
3. Glucose phosphate is combined with fructose to form sucrose used by
plants.
4. Glucose phosphate is the starting pint for synthesis of starch and
cellulose.
5. The hydrocarbon skeleton of PGAL is used to form fatty acids and
glycerol; the addition of nitrogen forms various amino acids.
Other Pathways of Photosynthesis
Environmental factors that affect photosynthesis are:
: color of light - only red and blue light is really
effective in the light reactions because the photosynthetic pigments tend to
maximally absorb these colors of light. They reflect more green, orange
and yellow wavelengths
- the amount of light in terms of brightness plants in full sun will usually photosynthesize more than plants in the
shade.
– amount of daylight
Water availability
1. The
is the MOST Common Pathway for Carbon
Fixation.
Plant Species that fix Carbon
through the
Calvin Cycle are known as
.
2. Other Plant Species Fix Carbon through alternative pathways and then
release it to enter the Calvin Cycle. These alternative pathways are
generally found in plants that evolved in
Climates.
4. Under such conditions, plants can
rapidly lose water to the air. Most of the
water loss from plants occurs through small
pores on the undersurface of the leaves
called STOMATA. Plants obtain carbon
dioxide for photosynthesis from the air.
Plants must balance their need to open
their Stomata to receive carbon dioxide
and release oxygen with their need to
close their Stomata to prevent water loss. A stoma is bordered by TWO
Kidney Shaped GUARD CELLS, Guard Cells are modified cells that
Regulate Gas and Water Exchange.
5. When a plant's Stomata are partly CLOSED, the level of CO2 FALLS
(Used in Calvin Cycle), and the Level of O2 RISES (as Light reactions Split
Water Molecules).
7. A LOW CO2 and HIGH O2 Level inhibits Carbon Fixing by the Calvin
Cycle. Plants with alternative pathways of carbon fixing have evolved ways
to deal with this problem.
8. C4 PLANTS - Allows certain plants to fix CO2 into FOUR-Carbon
Compounds. During the Hottest part of the day, C4 plants have their
Stomata Partially Closed. C4 plants include corn, sugar cane and
crabgrass. Such plants lose only about half as much water as C3 plants
when producing the same amount of Carbohydrate.
9.
- Cactus, pineapples have different
adaptations to Hot, Dry Climates. They Fix Carbon through a pathway
called CAM. Plants that use the CAM Pathway
their Stomata at
and
during the
, the opposite of what other
plants do. Because CAM Plants have their Stomata open at night, they
grow very Slowly, But they lose LESS Water than C3 or C4 Plants.