Light dependent stage of photosynthesis:

Overview:
This process occurs in the thylakoid membrane, involving the thylakoid space.
Chlorophyll molecules, electron acceptors of the electron transport chain and ATP ase are in the thylakoid
membrane.(diagram)

1. Splitting of water → Photolysis

H2O due to light energy 2H+ + 2e + ½ O2

2. ADP + Pi+ E (Energy of light) ATP ase ATP – photophosphorylation

3. Reduction of NADP: NADP + 2H+ + 2e → reduced NADP

Phosphorylation occurs in O2 ways

i. Cyclic photophosphorylation
ii. Non cyclic photophosphorylation

Cyclic photophosphorylation:
Light is absorbed by photosystem I and is passed to the chlorophyll molecule.
An electron in the chlorophyll molecule is excited to a higher energy level and is emitted from the chlorophyll
molecule. This is called photoactivation and as a result chlorophyll molecule becomes positively charged.
This excited electron is captured by an electron acceptor and passed back to the chlorophyll molecule via a
chain of electron carriers.
While moving electrons through the electron transport chain, energy released is used for phosphorylation of
ATP (ADP + Pi → ATP). This occurs by the process of chemiosmosis.

Non cyclic photophosphorylation:

Light is absorbed by both photosystems (I &II) and excited e s are emitted from both. Electrons emitted from
photosystem II are absorbed by photosystem I, via an electron transport chain and ATPs are synthesized during
e transfer along an electron transport chain. This also occurs by the process of chemiosmosis.
Photosystem II includes enzymes necessary for
photolysis water( occurs in the thylakoid space).
H2O → 2H+ + 2e- + ½ O2
O2 - waste product
2H+- taken up by NADP (in the stroma)
2e – given to (+) vely charged chlorophyll in
photosystem II.
Electrons released from photosystem I are also
taken by NADP.
NADP + 2H+ + 2e → reduced NADP

From photolysis of water from photosystem I

Chemiosmosis:
In the light dependent stage, H+ (protons) are pumped across the thylakoid membrane from the stroma to the
thylakoid space. As a result a gradient in H+ is built up between the thylakoid space and the stroma. These
protons then diffuse back from the thylakoid space into the stroma through the channel in the ATP synthase
molecules that are in the thylakoid membrane. This causes the synthesis of ATP from ADP and PO43-. It
should be noticed that ATP synthesis occurs on the stromal side of the thylakoid membrane.

Diagram:

Light independent stage of photosynthesis:

This process occurs in the stroma.
1. CO2 combines with 5C sugar, Ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP). This process is called the fixation of
CO2. This process is catalysed by the enzyme Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase (RUBISCO). This is
the most common enzyme in the world.

2. The 6C, compound made is unstable so this separates to, 2 × 3C compounds.

2 × glycerate – 3 phosphate -GP (PGA)

3. In the presence of ATP and reduced NADP from the light dependent stage is used to reduce GP to
glyceraldehyde 3 phosphate (GALP) – 3C sugar (triose)
4. 5/6 - to regenerate RuBP
3C sugar
1/6 – to make carbohydrates and other molecules needed by the
plant.
5. The process is known as the Calvin cycle. This can occur in both dark and light but stops in the absence
of light as no ATPs and reduced NADPs are provided.
6. Each step of the Calvin cycle is controlled by enzymes.

All the organic compounds in the plant are formed

using products of the photosynthesis.

GALP condensation Glucose Sucrose

(3C)

Starch cellulose acetyl co – enzyme A

Amino acids fatty acid lipid

Nucleotides
Phospholipids
Proteins
DNA & RNA