Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

What Is Photosynthesis The process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide and water into

sugars such as glucose and oxygen in the presence of sunlight.

 Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

The basic structure of

a chlorophyll

1- Molecule is a porphyrin ring, co-ordinated to a central atom

in chlorophyll it is magnesium.

2- This is very similar in structure to the heme group found in

hemoglobin.
3- PhotosyntheFc organisms have pigments called chlorophyll
present inside organelle called chloroplast (in plants) which can
capture the wavelength of light in visible light range.
 Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

TWO: main types

of chlorophyll

TYPE 1: Chlorophyll a

FuncFon: primary photosyntheFc pigment:

1- Absorbs light energy (ParFcipate in light reacFons) and

transforms it into excited electrons.
2- Transfers those electrons to other molecules.

3- Chlorophyll a absorbs energy from wavelengths of blue-violet and

orange-red light. Reflects green.

Type 2: Chlorophyll b

1- Absorbs blue and organe light

2- Reflect yellow- green

3- It does not directly parFcipate

in ligh reacFon.
 Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

Two major stages of

Photosynthesis:

• First Stage : The light-dependent stage (takes place primarily in the

thylakoid membrane)

• Second stage : the light-independent stage (also known as the

Calvin cycle). ( details below table )

Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi
 Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

Two systems of electron First system. : Noncyclic electron transport:

transport:
- Uses: photosystems I and II.

- Requires: water, splits water to give oxygen (photolysis)

- Results:
• Produces NADPH and ATP
• Electron is “lost” from chlorophyll.

Second System: Cyclic electron transport:

Uses: only Photosystem 1 (P700nm) produces ATP only.

Excited electron returns to chlorophyll.
Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

1- The chlorophyll pigments within photosystem II absorb this

energy,

2- The electrons within them are excited.

Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

3- The electrons move to a higher energy level and are transferred to

the primary electron acceptor within the photosystem.

4- it is used to split a molecule of water into an oxygen atom and

hydrogen ions, releasing electrons in the process. This reacFon is
known as photolysis.

5- It also releases two hydrogen (H+) ions into the interior of the
thylakoid.

1- The electrons that have le_ photosystem II now move down the
electron transport chain, releasing energy as they are passed
between each component.

2- This energy is used to acFvely transport more hydrogen ions from

the stroma of the chloroplast into the thylakoid interior.
Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

3- enzyme NADP+ reductase. NADP+ reductase catalyzes the

addiFon of a hydrogen ion and two electrons to NADP+ to form
NADPH.

• Hydrogen ions, from an area of high concentraFon to an area of

low concentraFon.
• This movement is coupled with the phosphorylaFon of ADP to
form ATP.
Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

Protons are acFvely transported into the lumen of the thylakoid by

proteins in the photosyntheFc electron transport chain using energy from
electrons from photosystem II creaFng a concentraFon gradient.

OxidaFon of water in photosystem II and reducFon of NAD+ also

contributes to the gradient.

Chloroplast is 60% idenFcal to mitochondria.

electrons from photosystem I can enter electron transport instead of

reducing NADP+.
 Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

Calvin cycle

Pathway of CO2 Calvin cycle the light-independent reacFons because they are not directly driven by
fixaFon is called
Calvin Cycle. light.

In plants, carbon dioxide co2 enters the interior of a leaf via pores
called stomata and diffuses into the stroma of the chloroplast.

Dependent ATP and NADPH from the light reacFons.

on

Enzymes: in the
stroma use the
energy in ATP and
NADPH to reduce
CO2
Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

LocaFon Calvin cycle take place in the stroma

(the inner space of chloroplasts).

chloroplast: The site of the Calvin cycle reacFons,

where sugar is synthesized.

Stage / The Calvin cycle reactions can be divided into three main
ReacFons of stages:
the Calvin
cycle.
Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

1- Carbon fixation

DefiniFon: incorporates carbon from CO2 into an organic

molecule.

How: In plants, atmospheric CO2 enters mesophyll layer of

leaves by passing through pores on the leaf surface called

stomata.

• It can then diffuse into mesophyll cells, and into the stroma of

chloroplasts, where the Calvin cycle takes place.

Main Factors: an enzyme rubisco (RuBP carboxylase-oxygenase)

catalyzes agachment of CO2 to a five-carbon sugar called ribulose

bisphosphate (RuBP).

The resulFng of reacFon: - 6-carbon molecule is unstable, then

splits into two 3-PGA molecules.

Note: Carbon compound (3-PGA) called 3-phosphoglycerate

Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

2- Reduction
Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

First: Each molecule of 3-PGA receives a

phosphate group from ATP.

Result:

Doubly phosphorylated molecule called 1,3-

bisphosphoglycerate (and leaving behind ADP)

Second: 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate molecules are

reduced (gain electrons). Each molecule will:

- Receives two electrons from NADPH.

- Loses one of its phosphate groups,

Results:

- produces NADP+

- phosphate

- turning into a three-carbon sugar

called glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P).

3- regeneration of the starting molecule.

• Some G3P molecules go to make:

1- Sugars: Glucose/ Fructose or stored starch

Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

2- recycled to regenerate the RuBP.

• RegeneraFon requires: ATP

Note:

Carbohydrates can be used to make other compounds:

• Amino acids

• Lipids

• Building blocks of nucleic acids

Products • CO2 fixaFon: CO2 is reduced to carbohydrates.

• PhosphorylaFon using ATP

• ReducFons using NADPH

• Product of Calvin Cycle is G3P

Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

The Energy Cycle:

1- Photosynthesis uses the products of respiraFon as starFng substrates (CO2, H2O)

2- RespiraFon uses the products of photosynthesis as starFng substrates (Glucose, O2)

Instructor : Mouza Alshehhi

Rubisco indeed has two enzymaFc acFviFes:

1- Carboxylase AcFvity: to catalyze the carboxylaFon of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate

(RuBP), which is a 5-carbon compound, with carbon dioxide (CO2) from the

atmosphere. where CO2 from the atmosphere is converted into organic molecules.

2- Oxygenase AcFvity: the concentraFon of oxygen is high compared to carbon

dioxide; Rubisco can also bind with oxygen instead of CO2. (That lead to limit plant

growth because enter Calvin cycle: carbon not available to make sugars)