Name: Mark Brian P.

Flores Date Submitted: November 23, 2020

Course/Section: BSED – SCIENCE

Light Reaction of Photosynthesis

Reflection Paper

Photosynthesis consist of two primary steps, we have first the Light Reaction and
Calvin Cycle Reactions. So Light Reaction occurs inside the thylakoid of the chloroplast. In
here, the special pigments soak up light energy and transfer it to high energy electrons,
eventually producing ATP and the electron carrier NADPH. In thylakoids, the Light Reaction
use two photosystems called photosystem I and photosystem II, which are equally embedded
in the thylakoid membrane. It is imperative to realize that these photosystem are named for
the order in which they were discovered, not for the order in which they participate in the
photosynthetic process. I learned that Light Reactions actually begin at photosystem II. The
first thing that happens is that photosystem II receives photons or light energy. This light
energy is transferred to a chlorophyll reaction center, causing electrons in the reaction center
to become energized to the point that they escape photosystem II and shift to a nearby
electron acceptor molecule, located in the electron transport chain. Meanwhile, to reinstate
the electrons leaving the photosystem II, water is split, releasing oxygen, 2 hydrogen ions
and 2 electrons.

The first set of electrons continues to move down the electron transport chain,
releasing stored energy as it moves. This energy is used to generate a hydrogen ion gradient.
A protein in the electron transport chain pumps hydrogen ions from the stroma into thylakoid
space. This creates a high concentration of ions in the thylakoid space, comparative to the
low concentration of ions in the stroma. This gradient contains a large quantity of potential
energy, which is used by an enzyme called ATP synthase. The hydrogen ions flow down
their concentration gradient, through a channel in ATP synthase, releasing energy in the
process. ATP synthase uses this energy to adjoin a phosphate to ADP, forming ATP. I also
learned that as photosystem I absorbs supplementary light energy, the electrons again
become energized, escaping photosystem I and moving down the second electron transport
chain. Electrons form electron transport chain contiguous to photosystem II and replace those
from photosystem I and water is split to replace the electrons that have moved from
photosystem II. At the end of this electron transport chain, the energized electrons and a
hydrogen molecule are used to diminish NADP to NADPH.

Overall, the Light Reactions use light energy and water to produce ATP and NADPH.
Oxygen gas is released as a product. Together, the ATP and NADPH formed during the
Light Reactions, are used by the Calvin cycle reactions. Therefore, plants need both light and
water to survive. Without these ingredients, the Light Reactions would shut down stalling
photosynthesis and causing the plant to die.