Chapter 7

Photosynthesis

Chapter 7 2

What Is Photosynthesis?
Early cells evolved the ability to perform photosynthesis about 2 billion years ago Photosynthesis is the ability to capture sunlight energy and convert it to chemical energy Most forms of life on Earth depend on the chemical energy produced by photosynthetic organisms

Chapter The Photosynthetic 3 7 Equation

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

carbon water dioxide sunlight glucose (sugar) oxygen

Photosynthesis occurs in plants, algae, and some prokaryotes Photosynthetic organisms are autotrophs (self- feeders) Photosynthesis in plants occurs within chloroplasts

4 Gases, Sugar, andChapter 7 Production of carbon Water Cycle compounds like glucose

compounds like glucose (photosynthesis) is linked with energy extraction (in cellular respiration)

Water, CO2, sugar, and O2 cycle between the two processes Photosynthesis and cellular

Interconnections: Photosynthesis & Respiration

Chapter 7 5

Adaptations for Photosynthesis

Leaves

Chapter 7 6

Chloroplasts

Structures of Photosynthesis

Chapter 7 7

Chapter 7 8

Leaves Flattened leaf shape exposes large surface area to catch sunlight Upper and lower leaf surfaces of a leaf comprise the epidermis Waxy, waterproof cuticle on outer surfaces reduces water evaporation

Chapter 7 9

Adjustable pores called stomata allow for entry of air with CO2 Inner mesophyll cell layers contain majority of chloroplasts Vascular bundles (veins) supply water and minerals to the leaf while carrying sugars away from the leaf

Leaf Anatomy

Chapter 7 10

Internal Leaf Structure

Internal leaf structure is crucial to photosynthesis since photosynthesis occurs primarily in the leaves of land plans

Chapter 7 11

Leaf Structure

Upper Epidermis Mesophyl Cells

Vein

Lower Lowe Stoma Epidermis

Chapter 7 12

Anatomy of a Chloroplast
Mesophyll cells have 40200 chloroplasts each Chloroplasts are bounded by a double membrane composed of the inner and outer membranes

Chapter 7 13

Anatomy of a Chloroplast
The stroma is the semi-fluid medium within the inner membrane Disk-shaped sacs called thylakoids found within the stroma in stacks called grana

Chapter 7 14

Chloroplast Structure

Thylakoids Stroma
(space)

Granum Inner & Outer Membranes

Chapter The Energy in Visible 157 Light The sun radiates

electromagnetic energy Visible light is radiation falling between 400-750 nanometers of wavelength Packets of energy called photons with different energy levels Short-wavelength photons are very energetic Longer-wavelength photons

Chapter 7 16 Light, Chloroplast Pigments, & Photosynthesis Micro- Radio Gamma Rays X-Rays Infrared UV wavesWaves Visible Light

400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750

Wavelength (nanometers, nm)

Action of light-capturing pigments Absorption of certain wavelengths (light is trapped) Reflection of certain wavelengths (light bounces back) Transmission of certain wavelengths (light

17 Light Captured byChapter 7 Pigments

18 Light Captured byChapter 7 Pigments

Absorbed light drives biological processes when it is converted to chemical energy Common pigments found in chloroplasts include: Chlorophyll a and b Accessory pigments such as carotenoids

Light Captured by Chlorophyll Pigments a and b absorb

Chapter 7 19

violet, blue, and red light but reflect green light (hence they appear green) Carotenoids absorb blue and green light but reflect yellow, orange, or red (hence they appear yelloworange) Pigment absorbs visible light

Absorption Spectra
Visible Light

Chapter 7 20
Lig t Ch rop st h , lo la Pig e t &Ph osy t e m ns oto n h sis sy
Ga m Ray m a ys s Chapter 7

icroicro dio X Ra s U In re M ve- W d s - Ray V y fraredw s Ra io d a a ve Visib Lig t isible Ligh le h

7 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 77 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

W v le g h(n no e e ave n t a om t rs) e m

Chlorophyll ely

80

60

Carotenoids Phycocya nin

40 20

0 400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750

Wavelength (nanometers)

% Light Absorption

400 450 500 550 600 650 700 750 Collectiv 100

Overview of Photosynthesis

Chapter 7 21

Light-Dependent Reactions H2O O2

(in thylakoids) Deplete Energiz d ed Carriers Carriers
(ADP, + NADP+)

Glucose

Light-Independent Reactions
(in stroma)

(ATP, NADPH)

C O2

The Photosystems

Chapter 7 22

Light-Dependent Reactions

Chapter 7 23

Steps of the light reactions: Accessory pigments in Photosystems absorb light and pass energy to reaction centers containing chlorophyll Reaction centers receive energized electrons

24 Light-Dependent Chapter 7 Reactions Energized electrons then

passed down a series of electron carrier molecules (Electron Transport Chain) Energy released from passed electrons used to synthesize ATP from ADP and phosphate Energized electrons also used to make NADPH from

Chapter 7 25 Thylakoid Structure & Light-Dependent Reactions

Chapter 7 26

Oxygen as a By-product

Chapter 27 Chemiosmosi 7 s1

Chapter 7 28

Chemiosmos is 2

Chapter 7 29 Light-Independent Reactions

NADPH and ATP from lightdependent reactions used to power glucose synthesis Light not directly necessary for light-independent reactions if ATP & NADPH available Light-independent reactions called the Calvin-Benson Cycle or C3 Cycle

6 CO2 used to synthesize 1 glucose (C6H12O6) Carbon dioxide is captured and linked to ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) ATP and NADPH from light dependent reactions used to power C3 reactions

The C3 Cycle

Chapter 7 30

1. Carbon fixation (carbon capture)

C3 Cycle Has Three Parts

6 Ribulose bisphosphate (RuBP) molecules combine with 6CO2 Fixation step and subsequent reactions yield twelve 3-carbon phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) molecules

Chapter 7 31

2. Synthesis of Glyceraldehyde 3Phosphate (G3P)

C3 Cycle Has Three Parts

Chapter 7 32

Energy is donated by ATP and NADPH Phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) molecules are converted into glyceraldehyde 3Phophate (G3P) molecules

C3 Cycle Has Three Parts

3. Regeneration of Ribulose bis-phosphate (RuBP)

Chapter 7 33

10 of 12 G3P molecules converted into 6 RuBP molecules 2 of 12 G3P molecules used to synthesize 1 glucose ATP energy used for these reactions

The C3 Cycle of Carbon Fixation or Dark Reactions or LightIndepende nt Reactions or

Chapter 7 34

Chapter Relationship Between357 Reactions

The photo part of photosynthesis refers to the capture of light energy (light dependent reactions) The synthesis part of photosynthesis refers to glucose synthesis (lightindependent reactions)

Chapter Relationship Between367 Reactions

Light dependent reactions produce ATP and NADPH which is used to drive light-independent reactions Depleted carriers (ADP and NADP+) return to lightdependent reactions for recharging

A Summary of Photosynthesis

Chapter 7 37

Lightdependent reactions occur in thylakoids

Lightindepende nt reactions (c3 cycle) occur in stroma

Water, CO2, and the C4387 Chapter Pathway The ideal leaf:
has large surface area to intercept sunlight are porous to allow for CO2 entry from air Problem: Substantial leaf porosity leads to substantial water evaporation, causing dehydration stress on the plant Plants evolved waterproof coating and adjustable pores (stomata) for CO entry

Chapter 7 39

When StomataCO levels Are Closed When stomata close,

drop and O2 levels rise Carbon fixing enzyme combines O2 instead of CO2 with RuBP (called photorespiration) Photorespiration: O2 is used up as CO2 is generated No useful cellular energy made No glucose produced Photorespiration is unproductive and wasteful
2

Chapter 7 40

When Stomata Are Closed

Hot, dry weather causes stomata to stay closed Oxygen levels rise as carbon dioxide levels fall inside leaf Photorespiration very common under such conditions Plants may die from lack of glucose synthesis

C4 Plants Reduce Photorespiration

Chapter 7 41

C4 plants have chloroplasts in bundle sheath cells as well as mesophyll cells Bundle sheath cells surround vascular bundles deep within mesophyll C3 plants lack bundle sheath cell chloroplasts

C3 Plants & the Pathway

C3 plants use the C3 pathway

Chapter 7 42

In a C3 plant, most chloroplasts are in mesophyll

C3 Plants & the Pathway

Chapter 7 43

Much photorespiratio n occurs under hot, dry conditions

C4 Plants & the C4 Pathway

C4 plants use the C4 pathway

Chapter 7 44

In a C4 plant, both mesophyll & bundle-sheath cells contain

Mesophyll cell in a C4 plant

CO2 is captured with a highly specific enzyme.

Chapter 7 45

C4 Plants & the C4 Pathway

Much glucose synthesis Bundle-sheath cell in a C4 occurs.

Almost no photorespirati on occurs under hot, dry conditions.

Chapter 7

The end