Photosynthesis

prepared by;
DR.ROSEMARIE C.SANTOS
OLFU-PROFESSOR

1
Introduction

2
 Photosynthesis
• Photo means ‘light’ and synthesis
means ‘to make’
• Process in which plants convert
carbon dioxide and water into sugars
using solar energy
• Occurs in chloroplast
 Photosynthesis
• Process by which plants and other
autotrophs store the energy of sunlight
into sugars.
• Requires sunlight, water, and carbon
dioxide.
• Occurs in the leaves of plants in
organelles called chloroplasts.
4
 Photosynthesis
• A complex process that uses
sunlight, light energy to convert
carbon dioxide and water into
carbohydrates
• Was first studied by Flemish
botanist Jan Van Helmont (1580-
1644) in 1630.
5
Photosynthetic reaction:
•Carbon dioxide + water +light energy
organic material + oxygen + water

•Overall equation:
6 CO2 + 6 H20  C6H12O6 + 6 O2

6
 Photosynthesis:
6 CO2 + 6 H2O C6 H12 O6 + 6 O2

carbon dioxide + water = sugar + oxygen

photosynthetic
products often
stored as starch
•Starch = glucose
polymer

STARCH
THE COLOR OF LIGHT SEEN IS THE COLOR NOT
ABSORBED

• Chloroplasts absorb
light energy and Reflected

convert it to Light light

chemical energy

Absorbed
light

Transmitted Chloroplast
light
Fig. 10.2b
 THE BASICS OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• Almost all plants are photosynthetic autotrophs, as are some
bacteria and protists
– Autotrophs generate their own organic matter through photosynthesis
– Sunlight energy is transformed to energy stored in the form of
chemical bonds

(c) Euglena (d) Cyanobacteria

(b) Kelp
(a) Mosses, ferns, and
flowering plants
 Classification of an Organism
• Based on whether they can synthesize their
own food or not
• Organisms are classified into heterotrophs
and authotrophs
1.Heterotrophs
- “other-eating”
- Cannot synthesize their own food and depend
on authotrophs and other organisms for their
subsistence.
 Classification of an Organism

2. Autotrophs
-“self-feeding
-Synthesize their own food
 2 Main Types of Autotrophic
Organisms
a.Photoautotrophs – which include green plants
and bacteria (purple), can utilize light energy to
synthesize organic molecules.
b.Chemoautotrophs – which include some
bacteria that synthesize organic substances
from the inorganic substances in their
environment and are not dependent on light
energy.
 •Do we benefit from
Chemoautotrophs?
•Justify your answer
15
 • No, only in Photoautotrophs can
perform the process of
PHOTOSYNTHESIS.
In green plants, photosynthesis can be
summarized the chemical equation
6 CO2 + 6 H20 + light energy  C6H12O6
+ 6 O2

16
Food Chain
THE FOOD WEB
 Photosynthesis Redox-Reactions
Carbon dioxide and Water
the raw materials for photosyntheis
Water
 raw material and or by-product of photosyntheis
 6 molecules of water are newly formed in the
process and do not come from the 12 molecules that
are used.
6 CO2 + 12 H20 chloroplast  C6H12O6 + 6 O2 + 6 H20

19
 Photosynthesis Redox-Reactions
Is basically a light driven- Oxidation-Reduction process that
has 2 stages
1.Redox Reactions or Reduction-Oxidized
•For water&oxygen - Carbondioxide&Glucose
•Involved the stable transfer of electrons
between atoms.
•Reduced – an atom or molecule is said to be
reduced when it gains one or more electrons.
•Oxidized – when loses one or more electrons. 20
• In PHOTOSYNTHESIS, water is
oxidized into oxygen and
carbondioxide is reduced into 6
Glucose
H20 oxidized  O2 and CO2 reduced  6 C6H12O6

21
2. Oxidation–Reduction or Oxidized and
Reduced
•For NADP – NADP+ = NADPH
•Involves the compounds NADP+ and NADPH
which are oxidized and reduced forms
•NADP – Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide
Phosphate
•NADP+ is consist of 2 Ribose units, 2 Phosphate
units, Adenine + Nicotine
•NADP+ is converted to NADPH when a pair of
electrons and a Hydrogen ion (H+) are added to it. 22
Light Energy Harvested by Plants & Other
Photosynthetic Autotrophs

6 CO2 + 6 H2O + light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2

• Leaves photosynthesis
• Photsynthetically active because of
the presence of CHLOROPLASTS
• abundant in the leaf’s MESOPHYLL
• CHLOROPLASTS contain
photosynthetic pigment which
absorb light

24
 How do
pigments absorb
LIGHT?
25
Fig. 10.1
WHY ARE PLANTS GREEN?

It's not that easy bein' green

Having to spend each day the color of the leaves
When I think it could be nicer being red or yellow or gold
Or something much more colorful like that…

Kermit the Frog

 WHY ARE PLANTS GREEN?
Different wavelengths of visible light are seen by the
human eye as different colors.

Gamma Micro- Radio

X-rays UV Infrared
rays waves waves

Visible light

Wavelength (nm)
WHY ARE PLANTS GREEN?
Plant Cells
have Green
Chloroplasts

The thylakoid membrane

of the chloroplast is
impregnated with
photosynthetic pigments
(i.e., chlorophylls,
carotenoids).
Why are plants green?
ht
d lig
ct e Transmitted light
f l e
Re
The feathers of male cardinals
are loaded with carotenoid
pigments. These pigments
absorb some wavelengths of
light and reflect others.

l i ght
fl ec ted
Re

Sunlight minus absorbed

wavelengths or colors equals the
apparent color of an object.
Electromagnetic Spectrum and Visible Light
Gamma Infrared &
rays X-rays UV Microwaves Radio waves

Visible light

Wavelength (nm)
 Leaf Structure
• Most photosynthesis occurs in the palisade layer.
• Gas exchange of CO2 and O2 occurs at openings called stomata
surrounded by guard cells on the lower leaf surface.

Palisade

Spongy

33
 Chloroplast Structure
• Inner membrane
called the thylakoid
membrane.

• Thickened regions
called thylakoids. A
stack of thylakoids is
called a granum.
(Plural – grana)

• Stroma is a liquid
surrounding the
thylakoids.
34
The location and structure of chloroplasts
Chloroplast
LEAF CROSS SECTION MESOPHYLL CELL
LEAF

Mesophyll

CHLOROPLAST Intermembrane space

Outer
membrane

Granum Inner
membrane
Grana Stroma Thylakoid
Stroma Thylakoid compartment
 Chloroplasts:
Sites of
Photosynthesis
36
 Properties of Light
• Light is a form of (EM) Electro
Magnetic Radiation which is a wave
that has Electric and Magnetic
Components
• Light has a particle-like quality,
consisting of discrete particles
called PHOTONS
37
• Light is (EM) Electro Magnetic
Radiation that has wavelenght
within the range of 380 to 750 nm
• Light with a certain wavelenght is
seen by the human eye as a specific
color.
38
Excitation of chlorophyll in a Loss of energy due to heat causes
the photons of light to be less
chloroplast energetic.
e Excited
Less energy translates into longer
2 state
wavelength.
Heat Energy = (Planck’s constant) x
(velocity of light)/(wavelength of light)
Light
Light
(fluorescence)
Transition toward the red end of the
Photon
visible spectrum.
Ground
state
Chlorophyll
molecule

(a) Absorption of a photon

(b) fluorescence of isolated chlorophyll in solution

 PHOTON
• A form of EM radiation, carries
energy which may be transferred
when it interacts with matter.
• Radiowaves and X-rays – are
also forms of EM radiaiton
40
 Photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts
• In most plants, photosynthesis occurs
primarily in the leaves, in the chloroplasts
• A chloroplast contains:
–Stromaa fluid
–Granastacks of thylakoids
• The thylakoids contain chlorophyll
–Chlorophyll is the green pigment that
captures light for photosynthesis
 Chloroplast Pigments
• Chloroplasts contain several pigments

– Chlorophyll a
– Chlorophyll b
– Carotenoids, xanthophylls

Figure 7.7
 CHLOROPLAST Pigments

Chlorophyll a
•is the most important/major
photosynthetic pigment.
•it absorbs violet, red light and
reflects green and yellow light

43
Different pigments absorb light differently
Chlorophyll a & b
•Chl a has a methyl group

•Chl b has a carbonyl group

Porphyrin ring
delocalized e-

Phytol tail
 Pigments
• Other pigments called antenna or
accessory pigments are also present
in the leaf.
–Chlorophyll b (yellow-green pigment)
–Carotenoids (deep orange pigment)
–Xanthophylls (yellow pigment)
46
 Pigments
• These pigments are embedded in
the membranes of the chloroplast
in groups, hundreds of these
pigments are organized into light-
collecting units called
Photosystems.
47
 ATP
THE
ENERGY CARRIER
49
ATP: Adenosine TriPhosphate
• The food produced during
photosynthesis supplies energy not
only for the plants but also for other
organisms that depend on plants
directly or indirectly

50
 ATP: Definition
• Is the energy released from the
breakdown of food and transferred
in molecules
• is the currency used by all
organisms
• It acts as the fuel for all the
metabolic reactions inside the cells 51
ATP: (3) Major Components
1.Nitrogen base Adenine
2.Five sugar carbon Ribose
3.Three Phosphate groups
called “Triphosphate”
52
 Structure of the molecule
composed of
• Adenine
• Ribose
• Triphosphate (phosphate group)

53
Adenine
•Is bonded to Ribose to form a unit
called “Adenosine”
Triphosphate (phosphate group)
•Are linked in a chain that is bonded to
Adenosine

54
• The bonds between the
PHOSPHATE GROUPS are
particularly rich in chemical
energy

55
• The release of energy from ATP
involves the removal of the last
phosphate from Triphosphate
Group, this process is called
“DEPHOSPHORYLATION” and
is catalyzed by the enzyme called
ATPase
56
• After DEPHOSPHORYLATION
• Two Phosphate groups and
Adenosine remain
• Forming the compound called
“Adenosine Diphosphate”
(ADP)
57
 ADP Molecule
• Is readily accepts free phosphate
groups, regenerating ATP that can
be used in another chemical
reaction.
• This process is generally referred as
“PHOSPHORYLATION”
58
 Photosynthetic
Reactions
2 Stages
•Light Dependent Reactions
•Light Independent Reactions
or Dark Reactions
59
 Photosynthesis: The Chemical Process
• Occurs in two main phases.
– Light reactions
– Dark reactions (aka – the Calvin Cycle)
• Light reactions are the “photo” part of
photosynthesis. Light is absorbed by
pigments.
• Dark reactions are the “synthesis” part of
photosynthesis. Trapped energy from the sun
is converted to the chemical energy of sugars.
60
 Light Dependent Reactions
• Involve the conversion of light energy
to chemical energy in the form of ATP
and the production of NADPH
• Water is split in the process, releasing
oxygen as by-product of the reaction-
occur in the thylakoid membrane of the
chloroplasts. 62
 Light Reactions
• Light-dependent reactions occur on
the thylakoid membranes.
–Light and water are required for
this process.
–Energy storage molecules are
formed. (ATP and NADPH)
–Oxygen gas is made as a waste
product. 63
 In the Light Reactions, Electron Transport
Chains generate ATP, NADPH, & 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
Fig. 10.2c
 Dark /Light-Independent
Reactions
• Involve in the conversion of Carbon
dioxide and other compounds into
glucose
• Occur in the Stroma of the
chloroplasts
66
 Dark Reactions
–Carbon dioxide is “fixed” into
the sugar glucose.
– ATP and NADPH molecules
created during the light
reactions power the production
of this glucose.
67
• A Photosynthesis Road Map

Chloroplast
Light
Stroma
NADP
Stack of
ADP
thylakoids +P
Light Calvin
reactions cycle

Sugar used for

 Cellular respiration
 Cellulose
 Starch
 Other organic compounds
 AN OVERVIEW OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS
• The light reactions
convert solar energy to Light
chemical energy Chloroplast

– Produce ATP & NADP

NADPH ADP
+P
Calvin
• The Calvin cycle makes sugar Light
reactions
cycle

from carbon dioxide

– ATP generated by the light
reactions provides the energy for
sugar synthesis
– The NADPH produced by the light
reactions provides the electrons for
the reduction of carbon dioxide
to glucose
 Light Dependent Reactions
• Involve the Photosystems I and II
• Each type has a particular kind of key
chlorophyll a molecule, called the
• “Reaction Center”
• Both photosystems are simultaneouly
excited
72
73
 Review: Photosynthesis uses light energy
to make food molecules

• A summary of the
Chloroplast
chemical Light

processes of
photosynthesis Photosystem II
Electron transport
chains CALVIN
Photosystem I CYCLE Stroma

Elec
tron
s
Cellular
respiration
Cellulose
Starch
Other organic
LIGHT REACTIONS CALVIN CYCLE compounds
 Chloroplast

Light Photosystem
II
Electron
transport CALVIN
chains CYCLE
Photosystem
I

Stroma
Ele
ctro
n s

Cellular
respiration

Cellulose

Starch

Other organic
LIGHT REACTIONS CALVIN CYCLE compounds
 How the Light Reactions Generate ATP and NADPH
Primary
electron NADP
acceptor
Energy
Primary to make 3
electron
acceptor 2

Ele
Light
ctr
on
t r an
sp
ort
Light ch
a in

Primary
electron
acceptor

Reaction-
1 center NADPH-producing
chlorophyll photosystem

Water-splitting
photosystem
2 H + 1/2
Noncyclic Photophosphorylation
• Photosystem II regains electrons by splitting water,
leaving O2 gas as a by-product El
ec
Primary tro
electron acceptor n
tr a
ns
p or
Primary El t
electron acceptor ec
tro
n
tr a
ns
p or
t ch
ain

Photons

Energy for
synthesis of

PHOTOSYSTEM I

PHOTOSYSTEM II by chemiosmosis
 PHOTOSYSTEM II - STEPS

1.When light strikes any of its pigments,

Photosystem II absorbs and transfer
the energy to the P680 Reaction
Center - elevating it to a higher
energy level; the electron is passed
on to a;
79
2. Primary electron acceptor – this
electron is replaced by an electron
from water which then splits into two
Hydrogen (H+) ions and an oxygen
atom, a reaction called “Photolysis”.
The oxygen atom immediately combines
with another oxygen atom to form
Oxygen which is released as by-
product
80
3. The electron gained passes
through a chain of biochemical
reactions called “The Electron
Transport Chain”

81
4. This electron flow, in turn results in
the sysnthesis of ATP
molecules, which is used later in
the Dark Reactions. From the
Electron Transport Chain, the
excited electron is transferred to
Photosystem I.
82
 PHOTOSYSTEM I - STEPS
1. Light strikes any of the pigments of
Photosystem I absorbed and
transferred to P700 Reaction Center.
2. This light energy causes the electron
to rise to a higher energy level, then
passed to a primary electron
acceptor. 83
 PHOTOSYSTEM I - STEPS

3. The electron acceptor is sent down

another electron transport chain
and reduces NADP+ into NADPH,
which is also used in the Dark
Reactions.

84
• The electron
transport pathway
from water to NADPH
is called Z scheme
85
 Dark /Light-Independent
Reactions
• There are two Dark Reactions;
1.Carbon fixation
2.Calvin – Benson Cycle

86
 Carbon fixation

• A carbon atom from Carbon dioxide

is attached to an organic compound
• Carbon dioxide is fixed

87
 3 Pathways to Carbon
fixation
1. C3 carbon fixation – the most
common, the 1st step in Calvin-
Benson Cycle in all plants.
2. C4 carbon fixation
3. CAM (crassulacean acid
metabolism) 88
 Calvin-Benson Cycle
• Was discovered by Melvin Calvin
and Andrew Benson
• They formulated the metabolic
pathway for carbon dioxide fixation
based on their studies using the
radioactive isotope carbon-14 to
label CO2 89
 Calvin-Benson Cycle
• The Calvin-Benson Cycle utilizes
the products of the light dependent
reactions, ATP and NADPH.
• The reactions occur in the stroma of
the chloroplasts, hence, it is called
the stroma reaction or C3 cycle
90
 C3 cycle
• Because the carbohydrate directly
produced in these reactions is a 3-
Carbon sugar called (PGAL)
Phosphoglyceraldehyde and not
glucose

91
 Calvin-Benson Cycle
• CO2 gas enters the leaf through
the stomata, a 5-Carbon sugar
called ribulose biphosphate
(RuBP)

92
 Calvin-Benson Cycle
• This initial part of the reaction is
catalyzed by an enzyme called
RuBP carboxylase (RuBisCO)
which is the most abundant protein
in the chloroplasts.

93
1. Step in Calvin-Benson Cycle
1. accepts it, forming 2
molecules of 3-
phosphoglycerate
(3PGA), which has 3
carbon atoms
94
2. Step in Calvin-Benson Cycle
2. Each molecule of 3PGA
receives an additional Phosphate
from ATP (from Light-Dependent
Reactions), forming 1,3
biphosphoglycerate (1,3BPGA)

95
3. Step in Calvin-Benson Cycle
3. A pair of electrons from NADPH
(also from Light-Dependent
Reactions) finally reduces 1,3BPGA
to PGAL, which is used to synthesize
glucose and other forms of
carbohydrates and to regenerate RuBP
96
• Two types of
photosystems
cooperate in
the light

Photon
ATP

reactions
mill

Photon

Water-splitting NADPH-producing
photosystem photosystem
98
• Photosynthesis is the process by which autotrophic
organisms use light energy to make sugar and
oxygen gas from carbon dioxide and water

Carbon Water Glucose Oxygen

dioxide PHOTOSYNTHESIS gas