PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Different Types of Organisms as to Mode of Nutrition:

1. Photoautotrophs - organisms obtain their energy through photosynthesis ex. Plants, algae, photosynthetic bacteria 2. Heterotrophs - rely on other organisms for organic molecules to build their bodies 3. Chemoautotrophs - obtain their carbon from CO2 and energy from inorganic chemicals

Differences between autotrophs and heterotrophs

Photoautotrophs Heterotrophs

Source of energy

Sunlight

Food:proteins
carbohydrates

Source of building materials

carbon dioxide

Food

Organisms

photosynthetic plants Algae Cyanobacteria Photosynthetic bacteria

Completeley parasitic plants Fungi Animals; protozoa Non-photosynthetic parts of plants

Photosynthesis
Is the process by which green plants and autotrophic organisms synthesize food.

6CO2

+ 12H20

chl
light

C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O

AN OVERVIEW OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Photosynthesis is the process by which autotrophic organisms use light energy to form sugar and oxygen gas from carbon dioxide and water

Photosynthesis - use light energy to convert CO2 and H2O into sugar - chloroplast

 In most plants, photosynthesis occurs primarily in the leaves,stem A chloroplast contains: stroma, a fluid grana, stacks of thylakoids The thylakoids contain chlorophyll Chlorophyll is the green pigment that captures light for photosynthesis

The location and structure of chloroplasts

Chloroplast - plastid - organelle involved in making or storing food and pigments - chlorophyll - site of photosynthesis - stem and leaves -3-5um in diameter, spherical or elongated - 2 membranes - thylakoids

Grana - Conversion of solar energy to chemical energy takes place within the membrane of the thylakoids Stroma - site of sugar production and storage

2 Series of Reactions

I. Light Reaction

II. Dark Reaction/ Calvin Cycle

An overview of photosynthesis
H20 Light Chloroplast CO2

NADP+
LIGHT REACTIONS (in grana) CALVIN CYCLE (in stroma)

ATP NADPH

I. Light Reactions
Thylakoid membrane Photo part of photosynthesis Capture light energy O2 (by product)

II. Calvin Cycle

Stroma Synthesis part of photosynthesis Assembles 3 simple carbon sugars using ATP and NADPH from light reactions and CO2 from the air

LIGHT REACTIONS

The Nature of Light

Wavelength is the distance from peak to peak Energy is inversely proportional to the wavelength Longer wavelength the less energy

THE LIGHT REACTIONS: CONVERTING SOLAR ENERGY TO CHEMICAL ENERGY Visible radiation drives the light reactions

Types of Chlorophyll
1. Chlorophyll a - only pigment directly involved in light reactions - absorbs light from blue violet and red ranges of spectrum - wavelength in red and blue ranges of spectrum strongly drive photosynthesis

Accessory pigments
1. Chlorophyll b c, d, e - does not take part directly in light reactions - transmit absorbed energy to chlorophyll a molecules - accessory pigment 2. carotenoids - absorb blue-green light and absorb yellow or yellow- orange lights 3. xanthophyll

Light energy enters photosynthesis at locations called photosystems ( light harvesting units)
Primary electron acceptor

PHOTOSYSTEM
Reaction center

Pigment molecules of antenna

Movement of electrons in the light reactions

- little chlorophyll b - Almost same amount of chlorophyll a and b

II. CALVIN CYCLE

The Calvin cycle uses ATP

and NADPH from the light Reactions to make sugar Phosphates from CO2

Internal Anatomy of Leaf- Dicot

 carbon dioxide incorporated in a 4 carbon compound uses PEP Carboxylase requires special anatomy called Kranz Anatomy

The C4 pathway limits the loss of carbon from photorespiration

CAM Photosynthesis
Crassulacean Acid Metabolism Carbon dioxide is converted to an acid and stored during the night Stomata open at night During the day the acid is broken and carbon dioxide is released to Rubisco for photosynthesis Adaptive Value: - better water use efficiency (lower transpiration rates) - thrive in conditions of high daytime temperatures

CAM plants include many succulents such as cactuses, agaves, some orchids and bromeliads pineapple

CAM plants store CO2 in a C4 acid at night for use

in the Calvin Cycle during the day.