Light-dependent
reactions Calvin cycle
Light Chemical Chemical
energy energy energy
Cell
Chloroplasts
Fig. 10.2
Chloroplasts are highly structured, membrane-rich organelles.
Outer membrane
Outer membrane
Inner membrane
Inner membrane
Thylakoids
Thylakoids
Granum
Granum
Stroma
Stroma
Fig. 6.13
Phospholipids are
in constant lateral Phospholipid
motion, but rarely bilayer
flip to the other
side of the bilayer
Membrane proteins
Figure 6-18b
There are two processes in photosynthesis that capture light and produce
energy rich compounds that are used in carbon fixation. These are termed
Photosystem I, and
Photosystem II.
These processes are linked in what is termed the Z scheme of photosynthesis.
The Z refers to changes in redox potential of electrons.
Note that PSII comes before PSI in this scheme
Wavelength of maximum
absorption in the far red
Wavelength of maximum
absorption in the red
Light reactions occur in
the thylakoids (PSII) and
stroma lamella (PSI).
Dark reactions in
occur in the stroma
Thylakoid membranes appear stacked like coins but
in fact are highly folded and have a well defined
interior and exterior with respect to the stroma
Fig. 10.8
Chlorophyll is the most abundant pigment in the chloroplast.
All eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms contain both chlorophyll a
and chlorophyll b
-carotene Carotenoids transfer
energy from photons to
chlorophyll. They also
can quench free radicals
by accepting or stabilizing
unpaired electrons and so
protect chlorophyll
molecules
Chlorophylls a and b
When a photon strikes its energy
can be transferred to an electron
in the “head” region. The
electron is excited, raised to a
higher electron shell, with greater
potential energy
Tail
The
electromagnetic
spectrum
Shorter Longer
wavelength wavelength
Visible light
nm
Higher Lower
energy energy
e– Blue photons excite electrons to
an even higher energy state
Figure 10-9
Photons
Oxygen-
seeking
bacteria
O2 O2
Filamentous alga
Basic concept of energy transfer during photosynthesis
Three Fates for Excited Electrons in Photosynthesis
Higher Electron
acceptor
Reaction
center
Photon
Photon Fluorescence
e–
Heat
e– e–
Photochemistry
The energy of the excited state causes chemical reactions to
occur. The photochemical reactions of photosynthesis are
among the fastest known chemical reactions. This extreme
speed is necessary for photochemistry to compete with the
other possible reactions of the excited state.
Funneling of excitation from antenna system toward reaction center
Stroma
Thylakoid Lumen
Pheophytin has the structure of
In photosystem II, excited
chlorophyll but without the Mg in
electrons feed an electron
the porphyrin-like ring and acts as
transport chain.
an electron acceptor.
Higher
Pheophytin
e–
PQ
Cytochrome
complex
Photon
2. Electrons that reach pheophytin are transferred to
plastoquinone (PQ), which is lipid soluble, passed to
an electron transport chain (quinones and
cytochromes)
Chlorophyll
Lower
1. When an electron in the reaction center chlorophyll
2H2O O2+ 4H+ + 4e- is excited energetically the electron binds to pheophytin
and the reaction center chlorophyll is oxidized
Photosystem II Feeds an ETC that Pumps Protons
Plastoquinone carries protons to 3. Passage of electrons along the chain
the inside of thylakoids, creating involves a series of reduction-oxidation
a proton-motive force. reactions that results in protons being pumped
from stroma to thylakoid lumen
Stroma
Stroma Photon The ph of the lumen reaches 5
Photosystem II H+ Cytochrome
Antenna complex while that of the stroma is
complex
around 8 - the concentration of
e– H+ is 1000 times higher in the
PQ
Pheophytin lumen than the stroma.
e–
e– An essential component of the
Reaction PQ
reaction is the physical transfer
center
of the electron from the excited
H2O
chlorophyll. The transfer takes
O2+ H+ H+ H+
Thylakoid Lumen H + H+ ~200 picoseconds (1 picosecond
H+
H+
(low pH) H+ + +
H+
H+ = 10-12 s).
H H
The oxidized reaction center of the chlorophyll that donated an electron is re-reduced by a
secondary donor and the ultimate donor is water and oxygen is produced.
Figure 10-14
Higher Photosystem I
2e–
NADP+ + H+
Chlorophyll
Lower
The Z scheme linking Photosystem II and Photosystem I
Fig. 10.15
4e–
Higher 2 NADP+ + 2 H+
Pheophytin
Ferredoxin
4e–
PQ
Cytochrome 4 Photons 2 NADPH
complex
4 Photons PC
ATP
produced via P700
proton-motive force Photosystem I
P680
Photosystem II
Lower 4e–
2 H2O 4 H+ + O 2
Stroma
Thylakoid Lumen
Protons diffuse to the site of ATP synthase
Stroma
Stroma
Thylakoid Lumen
Things you need to know ...