BIOLOGY

CONCEPTS & CONNECTIONS

Fourth Edition

Neil A. Campbell Jane B. Reece Lawrence G. Mitchell Martha R. Taylor

CHAPTER 7
Photosynthesis:
Using Light to Make Food
Modules 7.6 7.14
From PowerPoint Lectures for Biology: Concepts & Connections
Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

THE LIGHT REACTIONS: CONVERTING

SOLAR ENERGY TO CHEMICAL ENERGY
7.6 Visible radiation drives the light reactions
Certain wavelengths of visible light drive the
light reactions of photosynthesis

Gamma
rays

X-rays

UV

Infrared

Visible light

Figure 7.6A

Wavelength (nm)

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Microwaves

Radio
waves

Light

Chloroplast

Absorbed
light

Transmitted
light
Figure 7.6B
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Reflected
light

7.7 Photosystems capture solar power

Each of the many light-harvesting
photosystems consists of:
an antenna of chlorophyll and other pigment
molecules that absorb light

a primary electron acceptor that receives excited

electrons from the reaction-center chlorophyll

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Primary
electron acceptor

PHOTOSYSTEM

Photon
Reaction center

Pigment
molecules
of antenna
Figure 7.7C
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 Fluorescence of isolated chlorophyll in solution

Heat

Photon

Photon
(fluorescence)
Chlorophyll
molecule

Figure 7.7A
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 Excitation of
chlorophyll in
a chloroplast

Primary
electron acceptor

Other
compounds

Photon
Chlorophyll
molecule

Figure 7.7B
Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

7.8 In the light reactions, electron transport chains

generate ATP, NADPH, and O2
Two connected photosystems collect photons of
light and transfer the energy to chlorophyll
electrons
The excited electrons are passed from the
primary electron acceptor to electron transport
chains
Their energy ends up in ATP and NADPH

Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

 Where do the electrons come from that keep

the light reactions running?

In photosystem I, electrons from the bottom of

the cascade pass into its P700 chlorophyll

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 Photosystem II regains electrons by splitting

water, leaving O2 gas as a by-product
Primary
electron acceptor
Primary
electron acceptor

Photons

Energy for
synthesis of
PHOTOSYSTEM I

PHOTOSYSTEM II

by chemiosmosis

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Figure 7.8

7.9 Chemiosmosis powers ATP synthesis in the

light reactions
The electron transport chains are arranged with
the photosystems in the thylakoid membranes
and pump H+ through that membrane
The flow of H+ back through the membrane is
harnessed by ATP synthase to make ATP
In the stroma, the H+ ions combine with NADP+
to form NADPH

Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

 The production of ATP by chemiosmosis in

photosynthesis

Thylakoid
compartment
(high H+)

Light

Light

Thylakoid
membrane

Antenna
molecules

Stroma
(low H+)

Figure 7.9

ELECTRON TRANSPORT
CHAIN

PHOTOSYSTEM II
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PHOTOSYSTEM I

ATP SYNTHASE

THE CALVIN CYCLE:

CONVERTING CO2 TO SUGARS
7.10 ATP and NADPH power sugar synthesis in the
Calvin cycle
The Calvin cycle occurs
in the chloroplasts
stroma

INPUT

This is where carbon

fixation takes place and
sugar is manufactured

CALVIN
CYCLE

Figure 7.10A
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OUTPUT:

 The Calvin cycle constructs G3P using

carbon from atmospheric CO2

electrons and H+ from NADPH

energy from ATP

Energy-rich sugar is then converted into

glucose

Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

 Details of the
Calvin cycle

INPUT:

Step 1 Carbon
fixation.

CO2

In a reaction catalyzed by
rubisco, 3 molecules of CO2
are fixed.

1
3 P

RuBP

Step 2 Energy
consumption and redox.

3-PGA
6

3 ADP
3

ATP

CALVIN
CYCLE

ATP

6 ADP + P

6 NADPH
6 NADP+

Step 3 Release of one

molecule of G3P.

G3P

P
G3P

3
Step 4 Regeneration
of RuBP.

OUTPUT:

P
G3P

Figure 7.10B
Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Glucose
and other
compounds

PHOTOSYNTHESIS REVIEWED AND

EXTENDED
7.11 Review: Photosynthesis uses light energy to
make food molecules

A summary
of the
chemical
processes
of photosynthesis

Chloroplast
Light

Photosystem II
Electron
transport
chains
Photosystem I

CALVIN
CYCLE

Stroma

Cellular
respiration
Cellulose
Starch
LIGHT REACTIONS

Figure 7.11
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CALVIN CYCLE

Other
organic
compounds

 Many plants make more sugar than they need

The excess is stored in roots, tuber, and fruits
These are a major source of food for animals

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7.12 C4 and CAM plants have special adaptations

that save water
Most plants are C3 plants, which take CO2
directly from the air and use it in the Calvin
cycle
In these types of plants, stomata on the leaf
surface close when the weather is hot
This causes a drop in CO2 and an increase in
O2 in the leaf
Photorespiration may then occur
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 Photorespiration in a C3 plant

CALVIN
CYCLE

2-C compound

Figure 7.12A
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 Some plants have special adaptations that

enable them to save water
Special cells in C4
plantscorn and
sugarcaneincorporate
CO2 into a four-carbon
molecule

4-C compound

This molecule can then

donate CO2 to the
Calvin cycle

CALVIN
CYCLE

Figure 7.12B
Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

3-C sugar

 The CAM plantspineapples, most cacti, and

succulentsemploy a different mechanism
They open their
stomata at night and
make a four-carbon
compound
It is used as a CO2
source by the same cell
during the day

4-C compound
Night

Day

CALVIN
CYCLE

3-C sugar
Figure 7.12C
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PHOTOSYNTHESIS, SOLAR RADIATION, AND

EARTHS ATMOSPHERE
7.13 Human activity is causing global warming;
photosynthesis moderates it
Due to the increased burning of fossil fuels,
atmospheric CO2 is increasing
CO2 warms Earths surface by trapping heat in
the atmosphere
This is called the greenhouse effect

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Sunlight

ATMOSPHERE

Radiant heat
trapped by CO2
and other gases

Figure 7.13A & B

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 Because photosynthesis removes CO2 from the

atmosphere, it moderates the greenhouse
effect
Unfortunately, deforestation may cause a
decline in global photosynthesis

Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

7.14 Talking About Science: Mario Molina talks

about Earths protective ozone layer
Mario Molino received a
Nobel Prize in 1995 for
his work on the ozone
layer

His research focuses on

how certain pollutants
(greenhouse gases)
damage that layer

Figure 7.14A
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 The O2 in the atmosphere results from

photosynthesis
Solar radiation converts O2 high in the
atmosphere to ozone (O3)
Ozone shields organisms on the Earths surface
from the damaging effects of UV radiation

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 Industrial chemicals called CFCs have hastened

ozone breakdown, causing dangerous thinning
of the ozone layer
Sunlight

International restrictions on these chemicals

are allowing recovery

Southern tip of
South America

Antarctica

Figure 7.14B
Copyright 2003 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings