Photosynthesis

Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Outline

Flowering Plants
Photosynthetic Pigments
Photosynthesis
Light Reactions
Noncyclic
Cyclic
Calvin Cycle Reactions
C
4
CAM
Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Photosynthetic Organisms

Photosynthesis transforms solar energy into

the chemical energy of a carbohydrate.
All organisms use organic molecules
produced by photosynthesizers as a
source of chemical energy.

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Flowering Plants

The green portions of plants, particularly

leaves, carry on photosynthesis.
Leaf of flowering plant contains mesophyll
tissue.
Contains cells specialized to carry on
photosynthesis.

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PHOTOSYNTHESIS VS CELLULAR
RESPIRATION

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Flowering Plants

CO2 enters leaf through stomata.

CO2 and water diffuse into chloroplasts.

Double membrane surrounds fluid (stroma).

Inner membrane system within stroma
form flattened sacs (thylakoids).
Often stacked to form grana.
Chlorophyll and other pigments within
thylakoid membranes are capable of
absorbing solar energy.
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Photosynthetic Pigments

Most pigments absorb only some

wavelengths of light and reflect or transmit
the other wavelengths.
Absorption Spectra
Organic molecules and processes
within organisms are chemically
adapted to visible light.

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Photosynthetic Pigments and Photosynthesis

Photosynthetic Reaction

Light Reaction - Chlorophyll absorbs solar

energy and energizes electrons.
Electrons move down electron transport
chain.
Solar energy ATP, NADPH

Calvin Cycle Reaction - CO2 is taken up and

reduced to a carbohydrate.
Reduction requires ATP and NADPH.
ATP, NADPH Carbohydrate
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Photosynthesis Overview

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Light Reactions

Light reactions consist of two electron

pathways:
Noncyclic electron pathway
Cyclic electron pathway
Both pathways produce ATP, but only the
noncyclic pathway also produces NADPH.

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Noncyclic Electron Pathway

Electron flow can be traced from water to a

molecule of NADPH.
Uses two photosystems, PS I and PS II.
Photosystem consists of pigment complex
and electron acceptor molecules in the
thylakoid membrane.
Pigment complex helps gather solar
energy.
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Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Cyclic Electron Pathway

Cyclic pathway begins when PS I pigment

complex absorbs solar energy and is
passed from one pigment to another until it
is concentrated in a reaction center.
Pathway only results in ATP production.

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Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Thylakoid Organization

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Calvin Cycle Reactions

Calvin cycle is a series of reactions that

produce carbohydrates before returning to
the starting point again.
Utilizes atmospheric carbon dioxide to
produce carbohydrates. Includes:
Carbon dioxide fixation
Carbon dioxide reduction
RuBP Regeneration
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Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Calvin Cycle Reactions

Carbon Dioxide Fixation

CO is attached to RuBP. The result is a 62
carbon molecule which splits into two 3carbon molecules.
Rubisco speeds up this reaction.

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Calvin Cycle Reactions

Reduction of Carbon Dioxide

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Calvin Cycle Reactions

Regeneration of RuBP

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Importance of Calvin Cycle

PGAL (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate) is the

product of the Calvin cycle that can be
converted to a variety of organic molecules.
A plant can utilize the hydrocarbon
skeleton of PGAL to form fatty acids and
glycerol, which are combined in plant oils.

Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

C4 Photosynthesis

In C4 leaf, bundle sheath cells and

mesophyll cells contain chloroplasts.
Mesophyll cells are arranged concentrically
around the bundle sheath cells.
In hot, dry climates, net photosynthetic rate
of C4 plants is about 2-3 times that of C 3
plants.
Avoid photorespiration
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C3 vs C4

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Carbon Dioxide Fixation in C3 and C4 Plants

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CAM Photosynthesis

Crassulacean-Acid Metabolism
C plants partition carbon fixation in
4
space, while CAM partitions by time.
During the night, CAM plants fix CO ,
2
forming C4 molecules, which are stored
in large vacuoles.
C molecules release CO to Calvin
4
2
cycle when NADPH and ATP are
available.
Water Conservation
Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Mader: Biology 8th Ed.

Online Tutorial

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/007352543x/student_vi
ew0/chapter7/cyclic_and_noncyclic_photophosphorylation.html
http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/007352543x/student_v
iew0/chapter7/how_the_calvin_cycle_works.html

Mader: Biology 8th Ed.