Chapter 17 : Photosynthesis

Edited by : NJ.NS.MMAP.WSWO February 2016

WHAT IS PHOTOSYNTHESIS?

 The process whereby light energy is converted to chemical energy that is stored in glucose or other organic
compounds.
 In the present of light, green plant produces oxygen and glucose from carbondioxide and water.

6 6 6

Glucose

WHAT IS LIGHT?

 A form of energy called electromagnetic energy /

electromagnetic radiation
 Known as visible light (various colours seen by
human eyes)
 Able to stimulate photosynthesis.
 Consists of photon.
 The shorter the wavelength, the greater the energy
of each photon.
 The entire range of electromagnetic radiation is
the electromagnetic spectrum
 The visible spectrum is from 380 nm to750 nm.

WHAT IS ABSORPTION SPECTRUM?

 A graph of a pigment’s light absorption

vswavelength of lightis called an absorption
spectrum.
 Each pigment has different wavelength of peak of
absorption.

Absorption Spectrum

WHAT IS CHLOROPLAST?

 Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts in

which chlorophyl are the most important
pigments.
 In plants, chloroplasts lie mainly inside the leaf in
the cells of mesophyll palisade.
 Gases exchanges occur through microscopic
pores called stomata.

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State the photosynthesis pigments involved in photosynthesis

1. Chlorophyll 2.Carotenoids Xanthophylls - Yellow

Chlorophyll a
Bluish green pigment
Carotene - Orange

Phaeophytin - Grey
Chlorophyll b
Yellowish green
Carotenoids absorb different wavelengths than
 Main pigment of photosynthesis. chlorophyll.
 Consists of 2 main parts, a complex ring (a
porphyrin ring, absorbs light energy) and a Chromatograph is a technique used to separate
long side chain. photosynthetic pigments
 In the center of the ring, contains a
magnesium atom.
 Absorb blue and red light while reflect
green light
 Blue and red light : effectiveness colors to
stimulate photosynthesis

LIGHT-DEPENDENT REACTION THYLAKOID

MEMBRANE
PHOTOSYNTHESIS

LIGHT-INDEPENDENT REACTION STROMA

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LIGHT-DEPENDENT REACTION

 Occur in thylakoid membrane.

 Process involved :
a) Photoactivation of Photosystem I and Photosystem II
b) Photolysis of water
c) Photophosphorylation : Non-cyclic Photophosphorylation & Cyclic
Photophosphorylation
 Produce Oxygen (by products), NADPH + H+, and ATP (Non-cyclic photophosphorylation)
 Produce only ATP (Cyclic photophosphorylation)

What is Photosystem?
PHOTOACTIVATION
 Photosystem is composed of protein complex called a
reaction-center complex surrounded by several light-
- Light energy absorbed by accessory/antenna
harvesting complexes.
pigments molecules.
- Energy is transferred from one pigment
molecule to another pigment molecules until
it reach reaction center.
- Electron from reaction center will be excited
to a higher energy state.
- Excited electron is released/transferred to the
primary electron acceptor.
- This creates electron deficiency in
photosystem.

Note : Photoactivation will take place twice in

Photosystem II first (chlorophyll a P680), then
Photosystem I (chlorophyll a P700).

Photosystem consists of : PHOTOLYSIS OF WATER

I. Reaction center complex :
a) Primary pigment (act as reaction center) • Occur in thylakoid space
b) Primary electron acceptor • Process of splitting of water molecule by
c) Light harvesting complex (contain accessory pigments). photons
II. Accessory/antenna pigments : • Water molecules will splits into O2,
a) Chlorophyll b hydrogen ions and electrons
b) Carotenoids : carotene, xanthophyll and phaeophytin.
PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION
(cyclic & non-cyclic)
2 types of primary pigments :
 Chlorophyll a P700 ( absorb light at wavelength 700nm)
• Formation of ATP using sunlight to
 Chlorophyll a P680 ( absorb light at wavelength 680nm)
excite electron of reaction center
 There are 2 types of photosystem : through ETC
- Photosystem I ( Chlorophyll a P700) • 2 types :
- Photosystem II ( Chlorophyll a P680) • non-cyclic photophosphorylation
- involving non-cyclic electron
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How does light dependent reaction occur?
NON-CYCLIC PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION
 Product of non-cyclic photophosphorylation : ATP and NADPH + H+(both will be used in Calvin
cycle)
 Photon is absorbed by accessory/antenna
pigments of PS II.
 Photon is transferred from one antenna pigments
to another.
 Until reach the reaction center of PS II ;
chlorophyll a P680
 P680 undergo photoactivation - it releases excited
electrons to primary electron acceptor
 thus, creates electron deficiency in PS II
 Photolysis of water occur
 Electrons produced replacing the loss excited
electron from psii (p680)
 The oxygen atom combines with another oxygen
atom from splitting of another water molecule,
forming oxygen molecule. Oxygen molecule is
released into air.
 Hydrogen ions are released into thylakoid space.
 The excited electrons are passed from primary
electron acceptor to PS I via electron transport
chain.
 Electron transport chain consists of
 Plastoquinone ( Pq )
 Cytochrome complex
 Plastocyanin ( Pc )
 The transfer of electrons through electron
transport chain will release energy to pump H
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flow
- require both PS I and PS II
• cyclic photophosphorylation
- involving cyclic electron flow
- require only PS I
 At the same time, light energy ( photon ) is
absorbed by antenna pigments of PS I
 Photon is transferred from one antenna pigments
to another
 Until reach the reaction center of PS I ;
chlorophyll a P700
 Chlorophyll a P700 undergo photoactivation - it
releases excited electrons to primary electron
acceptor
 Thus, creates electron deficiency in PS I
 Electrons from chlorophyll a P680 of PS II will
replace the lost excited electrons from
chlorophyll a P700
 Electrons from primary electron acceptor are
passed through another electron transport chain
consists of :
 Ferredoxin (Fd )
 NADP+ reductase
 NADP+ reductase will catalyze the transfer of
electrons from Ferredoxin to NADP+ and
reduced to from NADPH + H+
 NADP+ + 2H+ + 2 e- NADPH + H+
 2e-: from P700 (PS I)
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ions into thylakoid lumen, contributing to the  2H+ : from thylakoid space
proton gradient.
 The energy released is used to form ATP from
ADP + Pi in chemiosmosis by ATP synthase.

CYCLIC PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION

 Photon is absorbed by antenna pigments of PS I

 Photon is transferred from one antenna pigments to another
 until reach the reaction center of PS I ; chlorophyll a P700
 chlorophyll a P700 undergo photoactivation - it releases excited electrons to primary electron acceptor
 thus, creates electron deficiency in PS I
 From primary electron acceptor, electrons are passed through electron transport chain through Ferredoxin->
cyctochrome complex -> plastocyanin
 From Plastocyanin ( Pc ) electrons will return back to P700
 Product : only ATP : enter Calvin cycle
 During the transfer of electrons, energy is released
 The energy released is used to form ATP from ADP + Pi

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WHEN DOES NON CYCLIC PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION OR CYCLIC PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION OCCUR?

Non-cyclic photophosphorylation occurs most of the time. It will temporarily switch to cyclic
photophosphorylation to produce more ATP until the amount of ATP is adequate for Calvin cycle since
light independent reaction requires more ATP than NADPH + H+. After that, it will switch back to non
cyclic photophosphorylation.

COMPARE CYCLIC AND NON-CYCLIC PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION PROCESS.

CYCLIC NON- CYCLIC

Involve cyclic electron flow Involve non-cyclic electron flow
Only produce ATP Produce ATP, oxygen & NADPH + H+
Involve PS I / P700 only Involve PS I & PS II / P680 & P700
Electron donor is water
Electron donor is PS I / P700
(1st electron donor)
Last electron acceptor is PS I / P700 Last electron acceptor is NADP+
No O2 release // photolysis doesn’t occur O2 is released // photolysis occur
Both produce ATP by photophosphorylation
Both involve in light dependent reaction // both occur in thylakoid membranes

Light independent reaction/ Calvin cycle/ C3 pathway

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 Occurs in stroma of chloroplast. PHASE 1 : CARBON FIXATION

 Require :  3 CO2 combine with 3 molecules 5C sugar;
a) CO2 - reduced to organic ribulosebisphosphate (RuBP)
molecule  catalyzed by RuBP carboxylase (rubisco)
 forming 3 molecules of 6C intermediate which
- via carbon fixation
are very unstable
b) NADPH + H+
 Each 6C intermediate, immediately splits in half
- Reducing agent
forming 2 molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate (3C
c) ATP compound)
- Source of energy  Total number of 3-phosphoglycerate : 6
 Produced glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P) molecules.
 For a net synthesis of ONE G3P :
- 3 times of Calvin cycle
- requires 3 CO2 for carbon fixation,
9 ATP, 6 NADPH + 6H+

PHASE 2 : REDUCTION PHASE 3 :

• STEP 1: REGENERATION OF CO2 acceptor (RuBP)
– Each 3-phosphoglycerate receive an additional • Through a complex series of enzymatic reactions;
phosphate group from ATP • 5 molecules G3P are rearranged
– Forming 6 molecules of – to regenerate 3 molecules of RuBP
– 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate – Requires 3 ATP
– The phosphate group comes from hydrolysis of – RuBP ready to enter the cycle again
ATP
– 6 ATP molecules are required
–
• STEP 2 :
– 6 NADPH + H+ is oxidized to 6 NADP+
– phosphate group is removed from 1,3-
bisphosphoglycerate
– 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate is reduced to
glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P)
– total number of G3P : 6 molecules
– only one molecule of G3P is used by plant cell to
synthesize glucose molecule
– Another 5 G3P will continue the cycle to form 3
RuBP.

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Problem of C3 plants in hot climate

 ONE major problem with terrestrial C3 plants is DEHYDRATION

 Example of C3 plant : soya bean, potato, wheat
 Hot and dry climate caused :
o Stoma closed
o To conserve water
o Concentration of CO2 level drop
o [O2] level rise (Result from light dependent reaction)
 when O2 level is high & CO2 level is low:
o Rubisco tend to bind with O2 because Rubisco has high affinity to O2
 O2 act as a competitive inhibitor
 RuBP combine with O2 forming 5C compound

PHOTORESPIRATION IN C3

 Is called photorespiration because it :

- occurs in the presence of light
- require O2 & release CO2 (like aerobic respiration) but without production of ATP.
 But, this process is wasteful because phosphoglycolate is converted to CO2 with no production of organic
molecules e.g. carbohydrates.
 photorespiration reduce the efficiency of photosynthesis // reduce photosynthetic output

ALTERNATIVE MECHANISM OF CARBON FIXATION

Hatch-Slack Pathway/C4 C4 plants
Pathway

Crassulacean Acid
Metabolism / CAM CAM plant
Pathway

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HATCH-SLACK/ C4 PATHWAY

 Known as C4 pathway
 C4 because the 1st product of this pathway
is oxaloacetate (4C compound)
 Involving C4 plants
 Carbon fixation occur twice
 First carbon fixation occur in cytoplasm of
mesophyll cells
 Second carbon fixation occur in stroma of
chloroplast of bundle sheath cells
STEP 3
 Malate (4C) undergo oxidative
decarboxylation to form pyruvate (3C).
 CO2 is released and CO2 concentration
in bundle sheath cells is high to ensure
efficient fixation by RuBP carboxylase

STEP 1 STEP 4

 CO2 combine with phosphoenolpyruvate  CO2 combine with RuBP (5C) ;

(PEP) forming oxaloacetate catalyze by Rubisco
 catalyze by PEP carboxylase  Calvin cycle occur forming organic
 High affinity for CO2 compounds e.g. carbohydrate
i.e. bind with CO2 even at low
concentration of CO2
 bind with CO2 only
STEP 5

 Pyruvate is transported back to

STEP 2 mesophyll cells through
plasmodesmata.
 Oxaloacetate is reduced to malate (4C) by NADH +  Pyruvate is phosphorylate to
H+ phosphoenolpyruvate
 NADPH + H+ is oxidized to NADP+  Phosphate group comes from hydrolysis
 Malate is transported to chloroplast of bundle of ATP.
sheath cells through plasmodesmata

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State the differences between C3 and C4 plants

Morphology C3 C4

Leaf ‘Krantz’/ ‘Kranz’ anatomy absent ‘Krantz’/ ‘Kranz’ anatomy present

anatomy
Bundle sheath is surrounded by loosely Bundle sheath is surrounded by a ring of
packed spongy mesophyll// Bundle closely packed palisade mesophyll// Bundle
sheath is not prominent sheath is prominent

Only one type/ form of chloroplast Two types/ forms of chloroplasts

Chloroplast
Non photosynthetic// No chlorophyll/ Photosynthetic// Possess chlorophyll/
Bundle sheath
chloroplast chloroplast
cells
Physiology
Once// in Calvin cycle only Twice// Hatch-Slack pathway/ C4 pathway
Carbon dioxide and Calvin cycle
fixation In mesophyll cells In mesophyll cells and bundle sheath cells

Carbon dioxide Ribulose bisphosphate/ RuBP Phosphoenolpyruvate/ PEP and Ribulose

acceptor bisphosphate/ RuBP
Ribulose bisphosphate/ RuBP Phosphoenolpyruvate/ PEP carboxylase and
carboxylase// Rubisco Ribulose bisphosphate/ RuBP carboxylase/
Enzyme involved Rubisco
in CO2 fixation RuBP carboxylase less efficient in fixing PEP carboxylase more efficient in fixing
carbon dioxide carbon dioxide
Glycerate 3-phosphate/ 3- Oxaloacetate/ OAA
First product phosphoglycerate/ PGA
formed
Efficiency of Less/ low More/ high
photosynthesis
Photorespiration High/ more Low/ less

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CAM Pathway
At night (stomata open)
 CO2 combine with PEP forming
oxaloacetate
 Catalyze by PEP carboxylase
 Oxaloacetate is reduced to malate by
receiving electrons from NADPH + H+,
then it is oxidized to NADP+
 Malate is stored in vacuole of mesophyll
cells.
COMPARE C4 PLANT AND CAM PLANT
C4 PLANTS
SPATIAL SEPARATION:
First carbon fixation occur in mesophyll cells,
second carbon fixation occur in bundle sheath cells
Carbon fixation occur in mesophyll cells and
bundle sheath cells
Kranz anatomy present
SIMILARITY
 Both plant have Rubisco and PEP carboxylase
 1st product produced in both plants are oxaloacetate
During day (stomata close)
 Malate is transported to chloroplast of mesophyll cells
 Malate undergo decarboxylation to form pyruvate
 CO2 is released
 CO2 combine with RuBP; catalyze by rubisco
 Calvin cycle occur forming organic compounds
 Pyruvate is transported back to cytosol of mesophyll
cells
 Pyruvate is converted to PEP
 Phosphate group comes from hydrolysis of ATP.
CAM PLANTS
TEMPORAL SEPARATION:
First carbon fixation occur at night, second carbon
fixation occur during day
Carbon fixation occur in mesophyll cells only
Kranz anatomy absent
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