Adapted: http://ksuweb.kennesaw.

edu/~vking
Photosynthesis
Sun Energy into Sugars the plant can use!
Autotrophs: self feeders, organisms capable of
making their own food
Photoautotrophs: use sun energy e.g. plants
photosynthesis-makes organic compounds (glucose)
from light
Chemoautotrophs: use chemical energy e.g. bacteria
that use sulfide or methane chemosynthesis-makes
organic compounds from chemical energy contained
in sulfide or methane

Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis takes place in specialized structures
inside plant cells called chloroplasts
Light absorbing pigment molecules e.g. chlorophyll
Overall Reaction
6CO
2
+ 12 H
2
O + light
energy C
6
H
12
O
6
+ 6O
2
+ 6H
2
O
Carbohydrate made is glucose
Water appears on both sides because 12 H
2
O molecules
are required and 6 new H
2
O molecules are made
Water is split as a source of electrons from hydrogen
atoms releasing O
2
as a byproduct
Electrons increase potential energy when moved from
water to sugar therefore energy is required

Light-dependent Reactions
Overview: light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll
molecules-this light energy excites electrons and
boosts them to higher energy levels. They are
trapped by electron acceptor molecules that are
poised at the start of a neighboring transport
system. The electrons fall to a lower energy state,
releasing energy that is harnessed to make ATP
Energy Shuttling
Recall ATP: cellular energy-nucleotide based
molecule with 3 phosphate groups bonded to it,
when removing the third phosphate group, lots of
energy liberated= superb molecule for shuttling
energy around within cells.
Other energy shuttles-coenzymes (nucleotide
based molecules): move electrons and protons
around within the cell
NADP+, NADPH NAD+, NADP FAD, FADH
2
Light-dependent Reactions
Photosystem: light capturing unit, contains chlorophyll,
the light capturing pigment
Electron transport system: sequence of electron carrier
molecules that shuttle electrons, energy released to make
ATP
Electrons in chlorophyll must be replaced so that cycle
may continue-these electrons come from water
molecules, Oxygen is liberated from the light reactions
Light reactions yield ATP and NADPH used to fuel the
reactions of the Calvin cycle (light independent or dark
reactions)

Calvin Cycle (light independent or
dark reactions)
ATP and NADPH generated in light reactions used
to fuel the reactions which take CO
2
and break it
apart, then reassemble the carbons into glucose.
Called carbon fixation: taking carbon from an
inorganic molecule (atmospheric CO
2
) and making
an organic molecule out of it (glucose)
Simplified version of how carbon and energy
enter the food chain
Harvesting Chemical
Energy
So we see how energy enters food chains (via
autotrophs) we can look at how organisms use that
energy to fuel their bodies.
Plants and animals both use products of
photosynthesis (glucose) for metabolic fuel
Heterotrophs: must take in energy from outside
sources, cannot make their own e.g. animals
When we take in glucose (or other carbs), proteins,
and fats-these foods dont come to us the way our
cells can use them
Cellular Respiration
Overview
Transformation of chemical energy in food into
chemical energy cells can use: ATP
These reactions proceed the same way in plants and
animals. Process is called cellular respiration
Overall Reaction:
C
6
H
12
O
6
+ 6O
2
6CO
2
+ 6H
2
O
Cellular Respiration
Overview
Breakdown of glucose begins in the cytoplasm: the
liquid matrix inside the cell
At this point life diverges into two forms and two
pathways
Anaerobic cellular respiration (aka fermentation)
Aerobic cellular respiration


C.R. Reactions
Glycolysis
Series of reactions which break the 6-carbon glucose
molecule down into two 3-carbon molecules called
pyruvate
Process is an ancient one-all organisms from simple
bacteria to humans perform it the same way
Yields 2 ATP molecules for every one glucose
molecule broken down
Yields 2 NADH per glucose molecule

Anaerobic Cellular
Respiration
Some organisms thrive in environments with little or no
oxygen
Marshes, bogs, gut of animals, sewage treatment ponds
No oxygen used= anaerobic
Results in no more ATP, final steps in these pathways
serve ONLY to regenerate NAD+ so it can return to pick
up more electrons and hydrogens in glycolysis.
End products such as ethanol and CO
2
(single cell fungi
(yeast) in beer/bread) or lactic acid (muscle cells)
Aerobic Cellular
Respiration
Oxygen required=aerobic
2 more sets of reactions which occur in a specialized
structure within the cell called the mitochondria
1. Krebs Cycle
2. Electron Transport Chain
Krebs Cycle
Completes the breakdown of glucose
Takes the pyruvate (3-carbons) and breaks it down,
the carbon and oxygen atoms end up in CO
2
and H
2
O
Hydrogens and electrons are stripped and loaded
onto NAD
+
and FAD to produce NADH and FADH2
Production of only 2 more ATP but loads up the
coenzymes with H
+
and electrons which move to
the 3
rd
stage
Electron Transport Chain
Electron carriers loaded with electrons and protons
from the Krebs cycle move to this chain-like a series
of steps (staircase).
As electrons drop down stairs, energy released to
form a total of 32 ATP
Oxygen waits at bottom of staircase, picks up
electrons and protons and in doing so becomes
water
Energy Tally
36 ATP for aerobic vs. 2 ATP for anaerobic

Glycolysis 2 ATP

Krebs 2 ATP

Electron Transport 32 ATP
36 ATP
Anaerobic organisms cant be too energetic but are
important for global recycling of carbon
Sources:
Khan Academy

http://ksuweb.kennesaw.edu/~vking/