Light Dependent Reaction Questions

During the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis, oxygen is produced by photolysis. Describe

the process of photolysis and explain its importance. (4 marks)
• Using light energy and enzymes to split up water
• H2O 🡪 2H+ + 2e- + ½O2
• The e- are passed to chlorophyll to replace electrons lost in photoionisation
• Means the electron transport chain can continue to pass electrons down chain
• Can continue to produce ATP (for LIR)
• Can continue to produce NADPH (for LIR)
Name two ways chloroplasts structurally adapted to their function of capturing sunlight and
carrying out the light dependent reaction (2 marks)
• Thylakoid membranes - large surface area for attachment of chlorophyll and electron carriers
• Granal membranes - selectively permeable allowing H+ gradient to build and have ATP synthase
embedded for chemiosmosis
• DNA and ribosomes present - can quickly manufacture proteins needed for the LDR
• Photosystems - hold the pigments in a specific arrangement to get optimum light absorption
 Light Independent Reaction
• The next stage of photosynthesis does not
need an input of light energy.
• It can therefore take place in the dark, but
it cannot go on all night, because it needs
the ATP and NADPH made in the LDR.
• Takes place in the stroma of the chloroplast
- all the enzymes need for the reaction are
found here.
• The energy from ATP and the electrons
from the NADPH are used to reduce carbon
dioxide and build carbohydrates and other
organic molecules for energy storage
(carbon fixation).
 The Calvin Cycle
• In the 1950s, the details of the LIR were worked out by Melvin Calvin and his co-workers
and so is often referred to as the Calvin cycle…
1. Carbon fixation – CO2 combines with ribulose
2. An unstable 6C molecule is formed
bisphosphate (5C) by the enzyme RuBisCo
which immediately splits into two
molecules of glycerate-3-phosphate (3C).

5. Regeneration – Most TP molecules

are used to regenerate RuBP using the
energy from hydrolysis of ATP 3. Reduction – Each molecule of GP
is reduced to triose phosphate using
the hydrogen from NADPH and the
energy from the hydrolysis of ATP.

4. Some TP molecules are converted

into organic substances 🡪 Every 3 turns of the Calvin cycle, 6 TP molecules
carbohydrates, proteins and lipids are produced. 1/6 go on to form organic
molecules and 5/6 go on to regenerate RuBP
Discovering the Calvin Cycle
• Calvin was able to identify how CO2 was used to make
glucose by using the ‘lollipop’ experiment
• In the experiment, single celled algae are grown under
light in a thin transparent lollipop.
• Radioactive hydrogen carbonate is injected into the
lollipop. This supplies radioactive carbon dioxide to the
algae.
• At 5 second intervals samples of the photosynthesising
algae are dropped into hot methanol to stop chemical
reactions instantly.
• The substances containing radioactive carbon were then
identified at each time period to figure out how carbon
dioxide is used to make organic compounds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4DZvTfDXxU (start from 4:10)

 Tasks

1. Complete the ‘light independent’ section of the workbook up to and including

the ‘summary diagram of photosynthesis’. For the graphs about effects of
different factors on the Calvin cycle, draw a small Calvin cycle to help you!

2. Complete the separate summary worksheet of photosynthesis

3. Self assess using the following powerpoint slides

4. Extension: complete the extension worksheet on an alternative photosynthetic

pathway.
 Workbook
1. CO2 diffuses into leaf via stomata and
then diffuses into stroma of chloroplast 2. Carbon fixation – CO2 combines with ribulose
bisphosphate (5C) by the enzyme RuBisCo

3. An unstable 6C molecule is
formed which immediately splits
5. Regeneration – Most TP molecules into two molecules of glycerate-
are used to regenerate RuBP using the 3-phosphate (3C).
energy from hydrolysis of ATP

4. Reduction – Each molecule of GP

is reduced to triose phosphate using
6+. Some TP molecules are converted the hydrogen from NADPH and the
into organic substances 🡪 carbohydrates, energy from the hydrolysis of ATP.
proteins and lipids
 Workbook

Biosynthesis
6. Some GP is used to make amino acids (requires nitrates) and fatty acids.
hexose sugars (6c) e.g. glucose.
7. Pairs of TP (3c) combine to form _________
isomerised to form other hexose sugars e.g. fructose.
8. Glucose maybe ___________
condensation
9. Glucose and fructose combine by a ________________ reaction to form the
sucrose
disaccharide ________________. translocated in the phloem’s
This sugar is _________________
sieve tube elements.
Polymerisation
10. _________________of hexose sugars by condensation
cellulose starch reactions form
polysaccharides e.g. ____________ and ______________.
3
11. TP (3c) can be converted to glycerol (__c) these combine with the fatty acids made
lipids
by GP to form ____________________.
 Workbook
Questions
The Calvin cycle used to be called the ‘dark reaction’. This term is rarely used now.
Explain why this term is incorrect.
Although
  technically the Calvin cycle doesn’t require light to progress, it does require the
products
  of the LDR (NADPH and ATP) so will quickly stop in the dark.

Explain why the alternative name of the Calvin cycle, the light independent reaction, is not
completely accurate.
It
  is directly dependent on the LDR which is dependent on light.
 
Describe how RuBP is regenerated from TP in the Calvin cycle.

5TP (3C) + 3ATP 🡪 3 RuBP (5C) + 3ADP

 Workbook
• Explain the effect of reducing light intensity on the Calvin cycle

• Decrease in light intensity decreases LDR

hence fewer ATP and NADPH produced
• ATP and NADPH required to reduce GP to
TP therefore GP conc. will increase whilst
TP conc. Decreases
• Consequently, less TP and fewer ATP
results in less RuBP being regenerated
therefore the conc. falls as it can still be
used in C fixation by Rubisco.
 Workbook
• Explain the effect of reducing carbon dioxide concentration on the
Calvin cycle

• Lower conc. of CO2 will lead to reduced conc

of GP as there is less CO2 for Rubisco to fix.
• ATP and NADPH is still available hence any
GP will be reduced to TP.
• TP is used to regenerate RuBP therefore TP
conc. falls and RuBP conc increases.
• Explain the effect of temperature on the Calvin cycle
• Low temp = low kinetic energy therefore enzyme controlled reactions of the Calvin cycle are
slower – low rate of reaction (organic molecules produced slower)
• High temp = enzymes and carrier proteins denature so the Calvin cycle stops.
 Workbook

water Carbon
light
dioxide
oxygen glucose
    Light dependent reaction  Light independent reaction

Location  Thylakoids Stroma

Reactions  Photochemical Chemical

 Light causes electrons to flow from electron
donors to acceptors 
 2 photosystems are used that contain
chlorophylls that emit electrons when they
absorb light energy
 Water donates electrons to chlorophyll
Electron flow results in ATP production
Results light energy is converted to chemical energy
 water is split
 hydrogen added to NADP
 oxygen is a waste product
 CO2 is fixed when accepted by RuBP
2 molecules of a 3C compound called GP are
formed
a series of reactions (Calvin cycle) regenerates
RuBP
GP is reduced to TP
 CO2 is reduced to carbohydrate
NADPH is oxidised 🡪 NADP
ATP is hydrolysed 🡪 ADP
 
 Word Splat

ATP chlorophyll mitochondria LDR NADP cristae

RUBP GP coenzyme ATPase

stroma TP photolysis thylakoid oxygen RUBISCO calvin

reduction electron phosphorylation LIR water carotenoid cyanide

8 wavelength