λ

Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is the process whereby light photosynthetic pigment
energy is converted to chemical energy that is
stored in glucose or other organic compounds. Main pigment Accessory pigment
Chlorophyll a Chlorophyll b Carotenoids
(blue green) (yellow green) (yellow, orange, red, brown)

Overall equation: Light absorbed Violet and red Violet blue and red Violet blue and blue green
12H2O + 6CO2 + 18ATP + 12NADPH  Light reflected green Orange and yellow
6O2 + C6H12O6 + 6H2O + 18ADP + 12 NADP+ + 18Pi
photosystem
Function: Generate ATP and NADPH
Absorption spectrum of photosynthetic pigment
components
Reaction center Light harvesting complex
Consist of: Consist of:
• A pair of special chlorophyll a molecules • Chlorophyll a
• Primary electron acceptor • Chlorophyll b
Function: • Carotenoids
Primary electron acceptor accepts an excited electron Function:
from chlorophyll a Absorbs photon and pass from one molecule to another
until chlorophyll a in the reaction center
↓λ, ↑E, ↑photosynthesis
types
Photosystem II Photosystem I
• Reaction center chlorophyll a: P680 • Reaction center chlorophyll a: P700
• Absorption peak of chlorophyll a = 680nm (red light) • Absorption peak of chlorophyll a = 700nm (far red
light)
 Two stages of photosynthesis
Photophosphorylation is the production of ATP
from ADP using energy from sunlight

Light dependent reaction Light independent reaction

Location: thylakoid membrane Location: stroma
Non-cyclic electron flow Cyclic electron flow Calvin cycle / C3 cycle
Produces ATP and NADPH Produces ATP Uses ATP and NADPH
(Electron carriers in 1st ETC: plastoquinone, cytochrome complex and plastocyanin)

(5) 6x 3-phosphoglycerate (PGA)

(3)
(6)
6x 1,3-bisphosphoglycerate
NADP+
(2) reductase
H2O (4)
ADP ATP 2e
2e (1) NADP+ NADPH
+ +
2H+ H+
½O 2
6x glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P)
+
2H+

1. Light harvesting complex of PSII absorbs photon and pass Phase 1: Carbon fixation
from one molecule to another until chlorophyll a in the reaction • Only photosystem I involved • CO2 is attached to RuBP catalyzed by rubisco
center. Excited electron boosts to a higher energy level and is • Electrons cycle from reaction center to primary • 6C intermediate formed splits in half to form two 3C
accepted by the primary electron acceptor. acceptor, along an ETC (Fd, cytochrome complex and molecules of PGA
2. Water molecule is split (photolysis of water) to replace the Pc), and return to oxidized P700 Phase 2: Reduction
photoexcited electron missing from PSII, release O2. • As electrons flow along ETC, ATP generated by cyclic • Each PGA undergoes phosphorylation forming1,3 –
3. Electron moves downhill the first ETC producing ATP via phosphorylation bisphosphoglycerate, then reduced by NADPH into G3P
noncyclic phosphorylation and is accepted by reaction center • No NADPH produced; no O2 released • One of these six G3P exits the cycle to be used by plant
P700 which has already lost electrons • Importance: cell to form glucose and other organic materials
4. Light harvesting complex of PSI absorbs photon and pass from Noncyclic electron flow produces ATP and NADPH in Phase 3: Regeneration
one molecule to another until chlorophyll a in the reaction roughly equal quantities • 3 ATP used- carbon skeletons of the five G3P are
center. Excited electron boosts to a higher energy level and is However, Calvin cycle consumes more ATP than rearranged to regenerate three molecules of RuBP
accepted by the primary electron acceptor. NADPH. Turns of Carbon G3P Glucose ATP NADPH
cycle fixation molecule molecule used used
5. Electron passes down the second ETC through the protein Cyclic electron flow generates enough surplus ATP to 1 1 3 2
ferredoxin, Fd satisfy higher demand for ATP in Calvin cycle
3 3 1 9 6
6. Enzyme NADP+ reductase transfers electron from Fd to NADP+
(2 electron required for NADP+ reduction to NADPH) 6 6 2 1 18 12

12 12 4 2 36 24
 Differences between C3, C4 & CAM pathway

C3 pathway C4 pathway / Hatch-slack pathway CAM

example rice, wheat, soybeans sugarcane, corn cacti, pineapples

diagram

no. of fixation 1 2 2

location 1st : mesophyll cell

mesophyll cell 1st & 2nd : mesophyll cell
2nd : bundle sheath cell
1st product formed PGA (3C) OAA (4C) OAA (4C)

CO2 acceptor 1st : PEP (3C) 1st : PEP (3C)

RuBP (5C)
2nd : RuBP (5C) 2nd : RuBP (5C)

CO2 fixing enzyme 1st : PEP carboxylase 1st : PEP carboxylase

RuBP carboxylase
2nd : RuBP carboxylase 2nd : RuBP carboxylase

fixation time 1st : night time

day time 1st & 2nd : day time
2nd : day time

malate splitting - decarboxylated directly

stored in vacuole at night time before
decarboxylated at day time
Calvin cycle location mesophyll cell bundle sheath cell mesophyll cell