SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Intro to Photosynthesis
The overall equation/reaction:
_____________________________________
Carbon dioxide + Water + Solar Energy → Glucose (sugar) + oxygen
Takes place within the __________________ of plants and other photosynthetic organisms (photoautotrophs).
Chloroplasts have 2 membranes - outer and inner - which enclose the interior space. This space is filled with a
protein-rich semi-liquid material called _________________ - do not confuse this with stoma/stomata...
Inside chloroplasts are membrane-bound sacs called __________________ - the things that look like pancakes.
Thylakoids stack on top of each other in columns called ________________ (pl. __________). Granum are
connected to each other by unstacked thylakoids called _______________ (s. lamella).
A typical chloroplast has approximately ____ granae, each containing approximately ___________ thylakoids.
____________________ is a green-coloured pigment present in all
photosynthesizing organisms.
Chlorophyll is what ___________________________ to begin the process of
photosynthesis.
There are several types of chlorophyll: ___ (blue-green) and ___ (yellow-green)
Chlorophyll a contains a ___________ group – CH3 at R, chlorophyll b contains an ____________ group - COH.
All photosynthetic organisms will use _____________________ as the primary light-absorbing pigment.
All chlorophylls contain a ______________________ (“head”) attached to a long ___________________ (a.k.a.
the phytol tail or phytol chain). Delocalized _______________ in the alternating single/double bonds of the
porphyrin ring absorb the light energy and begin the photosynthetic process. The phytol tail anchors the
chlorophyll molecule in a membrane by associating with the ____________ regions of the
_________________________ bilayer.
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Let There be Light!
The full range of wavelengths of light emitted from the sun is known as the ____________________________.
Visible light is between _____________________ nm.
Light has properties of both _______________ and ___________________________.
Light travels in bundles of energy called __________________. The energy from photons is used to initiate
photosynthesis (when they get absorbed by photosynthetic pigments like chlorophyll).
Photosynthetic pigments ______________ light. Each pigment can absorb light (photons) within a specific
range of ______________________. Wavelengths that are not absorbed are either ________________ or
______________. This determines what colour we see!
Absorption Spectrum
A ___________________________ measures the amount
of ________________ that is absorbed through a sample of
photosynthetic pigments.
Accessory Pigments
Though chlorophylls are the most common pigments, other
pigments are present in plants to absorb other
wavelengths:
C_______________ Phycobilins X________________ Flavonoids A___________________
These pigments reflect other colours of light and are what we see when chlorophyll becomes less abundant
(such as in autumn).
Photosynthesis produces ________________. Production of oxygen is used to measure the rate (or
__________________________) of photosynthesis. Photosynthetic activity (oxygen output) is measured for
plants under each specific wavelength. Plotted on a graph: _____________________________.
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Homework: Answer the following questions.
1. Explain why leaves are green.
2. What is the range of frequency for visible light?
3. Differentiate between action spectrum and absorption spectrum.
4. a) Explain the purpose of the waxy cuticle that coats the leaf surface.
b) Explain why leaves are usually broad and flat.
5. Label the cross-section of a leaf.
5. Describe the role of the stomata.
6. Describe, with labels, the conditions that cause the stoma to be open and closed.
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis: The Light-Dependent Reactions
Photosynthesis is divided into two sequential processes:
Part 1: The light-dependent reactions and
Part 2: Carbon fixation/the Calvin cycle.
The “Light Reactions” have three parts:
1.
2.
3.
Occurs in the __________________ of the chloroplast.
Groups of molecules responsible for the light reactions are
called __________________________. Each photosystem
has 3 components:
1. ___________________________ made up of 200-400
chlorophyll molecules and/or accessory pigments (e.g.
carotenoids)
2. ________________________________ consisting of a
transmembrane protein complex containing a specialized
__________________________ molecule along with associated
proteins
3. ________________________________________ (PEA)
There are two/2 photosystems in plants:
Photosystem I (PS I): Most excited by light at 700 nm; called
__________. Only contains ____________________________.
Photosystem II (PS II): Most excited by light at 680 nm; called
____________. Contains chlorophyll a and b, carotenoids, xanthophylls and anthocyanins. Was discovered
after PSI, hence the II.
How Photosystems Capture Light Energy
1. _________________________ of light are absorbed by antenna pigments causing them to move from a
ground state to an _______________________________.
2. “Excitation” energy is passed along chlorophyll molecules until it reaches the _________________________.
3. _______________________________ in the reaction centre absorbs the energy.
4. The high-energy state of chlorophyll a causes it to emit __________________________.
5. The PEA takes the electrons from chlorophyll a.
This process is called _____________________________________.
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
STARTING WITH PHOTOEXCITATION
1) What initiates the light reactions?
2) Initially, at what potential energy level are the chlorophyll
molecule’s electrons?
3) What happens to the electron when a photon strikes it?
4) What causes an emission of light (fluorescence) by a solution of
chlorophyll extract?
5) Why do leaves that possess chlorophyll not fluoresce when exposed to light?
6) Identify the redox reaction between chlorophyll and the primary electron acceptor.
PHOTOSYSTEMS
7) What is a photosystem?
8) Explain the role of the antenna complex.
9) What is the pigment molecule found at the reaction
centre?
10) Photosystems are light-harvesting units found in the chloroplast thylakoid membranes. Describe the
differences between photosystem I and photosystem II.
Comparison Point Photosystem I Photosystem II
Note: PSI was discovered first (before PSII) hence why it’s given the ‘I” designation.
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
ELECTRON TRANSPORT CHAINS AND CHEMIOSMOSIS
Once electrons have been excited at the Photosystems, there are two possible pathways to take…
Non-Cyclic Electron Pathway
Electrons from _____________ are moved along an ETC, via Pq, the cytochrome b6f complex
(which pumps protons/H+ ion from the stroma into the thylakoid lumen) and Pc to
_____________ (producing ______ along the way) and eventually via Fd and NADP+ reductase
forming _________________ + H+ (in the stroma). _________________ is also split (to replace
electrons lost by PSII/P680) releasing ______________________. This process is called
photolysis.
Cyclic Electron Pathway
Electrons from _____________ are recycled – move between Fd, the cytochrome b6f complex,
Pc and back to ___________ – and their energy is used to (indirectly) form ______ molecules
(but NOT NADPH) via chemiosmosis.
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
NON-CYCLIC ELECTRON FLOW AND CHEMIOSMOSIS
11) Plants use photosystems I and II to produce _________________ and _________________ and also
release _______________________. This process is called non-cyclic electron flow.
Let us see how the complex process of photosynthesis begins…(fill in the blanks)
Photosynthesis begins when a photon strikes __________________________ and excites an electron of
chlorophyll _________________. The excited electron is captured by the primary electron acceptor through a
series of redox reactions. The ____ protein, associated with photosystem II, splits ____________ into oxygen,
hydrogen ions (protons), and electrons. One of these electrons are used to replace the missing electron in
________________ P680. Oxygen ______________ the cell and the protons remain in the
______________________ space.
The Path of the Electrons
The excited/energized electron then passes along an ETC through a set of electron carriers and enzyme
complexes.
The cytochrome complex transports ______________________ from the stroma into the thylakoid lumen,
thus creating an __________________________________ for chemiosmosis (similar to the process in cellular
respiration!).
Then the electron passes through other components of an electron transport chain similar to that in cellular
respiration, eventually replacing an electron that is lost by ____________________________ when it is struck
by a ____________________.
12) Where does the electron that is used in the reduction of NADP+ to NADPH come from?
13) How is ATP produced in this process?
14) Why is this process called non-cyclic?
Cyclic Electron Flow
In some cases, excited electrons take a cyclic pathway called cyclic electron flow that uses photosystem I only. In
this pathway, a photon ejects an electron from chlorophyll P700 of photosystem I. The electron is passed to
different complexes – Fd, cytochrome complex, Pc – and eventually returns back to chlorophyll P700. This cyclic
pathway generates a proton gradient for chemiosmotic ATP synthesis but does NOT release electrons to generate
NADPH. Without NADPH, the reactions of carbon fixation (the next stage) cannot occur because electrons in the
hydrogen atoms of NADPH are needed to reduce carbon dioxide.
15) In one sentence, describe the ultimate goal of the light-dependent reactions:
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Non-Cyclic Electron Flow
Cyclic Electron Flow
PSII = P680; Pq = Plastoquinone; Pc = Plastocyanin; PSI = P700; Fd = Ferredoxin
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Light-Independent Reactions: THE CALVIN CYCLE
General Info
Key Terms:
RuBP - ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate PGA - 3-phosphoglycerate G3P - glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate
Three Stages of the Calvin Cycle
Stage Description
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Light-Independent Reactions: THE CALVIN CYCLE
2 ________ molecules can combine to form 1 ______________. Alternatively, G3P can
combine to create _____________ (plants' preferred means of transporting carbohydrates)
and ___________________ (such as amylose for energy storage).
NOTE: This diagram, and many like it, show 3 combined “turns” of the cycle in which 3 CO2 creates 1
usable G3P (and which requires ___ ATP and ___ NADPH).
It, therefore, requires _____ combined “turns” (___ CO2, ___ ATP and ___ NADPH) to create one
molecule of glucose (C6H12O6).
*Technically though, one cycle only fixes one molecule of CO2 and ______ complete cycles are
required to generate the _____ G3P required to make 1 glucose.
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
The Calvin Cycle Worksheet
Use the diagram above, info from the slides and supplemental resources to answer the following questions:
1. What products of the light reactions are used for the Calvin Cycle?
2. Where do the reactions that convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrate molecules occur in the
chloroplasts?
3. Why is the Calvin Cycle in photosynthesis similar to the Kreb’s Cycle in cellular respiration?
4. Describe the first reaction of the Calvin Cycle.
5. What enzyme is responsible for catalyzing the first reaction?
6. What compound is the oxidizing agent (i.e. oxidizes another substance) in the next few steps of the
Calvin Cycle?
7. During the reduction reactions, what final product exits from the Calvin Cycle?
8. What happens to the remaining
G3P molecules within the Calvin
Cycle?
9. How many turns of the Calvin
Cycle are required to produce 1
molecule of glucose?
10. What are the three possible fates
of G3P produced by the Calvin
Cycle?
11. How many molecules of carbon
dioxide, NADPH and ATP are
required to make one molecule of
glucose?
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Comparing Cellular Respiration and Photosynthesis
Fill in the following chart to show your understanding of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis and
compare this with the oxidative phosphorylation reactions of cellular respiration.
Cellular Respiration: Photosynthesis:
Oxidative Phosphorylation Light-dependent Reactions
Organelle
Location in Organelle
General: General:
Reactant(s)/Input(s)
Specific: Specific:
Source of energy
General: General:
End products
Specific: Specific:
Energy Profile
Ender- or exergonic?
Ana- or catabolic?
Uphill or downhill?
Electron Source (for
ETC)
Electron Carriers
Final Electron Acceptor
(electron sink)
Location of H+ reservoir
(where are H+ pumped
into?)
Location of ATP
synthesis (where do H+
return through ATPase?)
SBI4U - Metabolic Processes Part 2: Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis Quest Review Sheet
Test Date: ________________________________________________
Format: multiple choice, modified true/false, short answer, diagrams, charts
What to bring: pencil, eraser, pen and a well-rested brain
Quest Topics
Leaf Structure
❑ Describe the structure of the leaf, including the role and operation of the stomata.
❑ Draw, label and describe the structure of a chloroplast – point out where the various reactions take
place.
Photosynthetic Pigments
❑ Relationship between wavelength, frequency and energy in terms of light.
❑ Explain the role of photosynthetic pigments. Terms: electromagnetic spectrum, wavelength, visible
spectrum, chlorophyll, carotenoids
❑ Compare the structure and absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and b. Terms: absorption spectrum, action
spectrum.
Photosynthesis
❑ Know the general word and chemical equations of photosynthesis.
❑ Compare, in general terms, the light reactions and the Calvin Cycle (light-independent reactions).
❑ Compare photosystem I and II (P680 and P700). Terms: photosystem, reaction centre, PEA.
❑ Describe how light energy is converted into chemical potential energy of ATP and NADPH during the
light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Terms: chemiosmosis, photosystem I and II, photolysis,
ATP synthesis, photophosphorylation, cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation, electron transport
chain.
❑ Describe how the ATP and NADPH from the light reactions are used to fix carbon and produce G3P.
Terms: RuBP (5-carbon compound), G3P/PGAL (3-carbon compound), Calvin Cycle, Rubisco.
❑ Know how different environmental conditions influence the “fate” of the G3P molecule that is released in
the Calvin Cycle.
❑ Compare photosynthesis and cellular respiration
