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Glossary
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autotroph (n.)
self-sustaining organisms
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Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food
Introduction
Poison ivy
contains urushiol 漆酚
causes inching and blistering
Produces energy by photosynthesis
Photosynthesis
uses CO2 from atmosphere
stores it in plant matter
The process of cellular respiration releases CO2 back to the environment
Main Ideas
Introduction to Photosynthesis
The Light Reactions
The Calvin cycle
The global significance of photosynthesis
An Introduction to Photosynthesis
Plants are autotrophs (自營生物)
self-sustaining
make their own food through photosynthesis
Heterotroph (異營生物)
consumers, feed on
plants
animals
decomposing organic material
photoautotrophs (光合自營生物)
uses light energy to produce organic molecules
Chemoautotrophs (化學自營生物)
prokaryotes that uses inorganic chemicals as energy
Photosynthesis fuels the biosphere
Photoautotrophs (plants, algae)
feed us
clothe us
house us
provide energy
Photosynthesis happens in chloroplasts
Photosynthesis ----> in chloroplasts
photosynthetic bacteria
infolded regions of plasma membrane with pigments and enzymes
Chlorophyll
light-absorbing pigment in chloroplasts
is green
is pivotal in converting solar energy to chemical energy
Mesophyll (葉肉)
where chloroplasts are concentrated
green tissue
Stomata (氣孔)
tiny pores in leaves
carbon dioxide enters
oxygen exits
Veins (葉脈)
- delivers water from roots
Chloroplasts has an envelope of two membranes
- enclose an inner compartment filled with stroma (基質)
- contain system of interconnected membranous sacs: thylakoids (類囊體)
Thylakoids
in stacks: grana (granum葉綠餅)
thylakoid space: similar function to intermembrane space of mitochondria
Thylakoid membranes house much of the machinery of photosynthesis
Chlorophyll (葉綠素)
built into thylakoid membrane
captures light energy
How scientists discovered photosynthesis (with isotopes)
Since 1800s
- scientists: plants produce O2
- oxygen was thought to come from CO2
- using a heavy isotope of oxygen, found that oxygen was from H2O
Photosynthesis is a redox reaction
Cellular respiration uses redox reactions to harvest the chemical energy in glucose
sugar oxidized, oxygen reduced to H2O
electrons lose potential energy when going down electron transport chain to O2
food-producing redox reactions (photosynthesis) require energy
In photosynthesis
light is captured in chlorophyll ----> boosts electron energy
energy stored in chemical bonds of sugars
Two stages of photosynthesis are linked by ATP and NADPH
Two stages of photosynthesis
Light reactions
in the thylakoid membranes
splits water ----> provide electrons (oxygen by-product)
1 ATP generated
light energy in chlorophyll gives electrons and H+ (from H2O) to NADP+ ---->
NADPH (electrons used to reduce carbon in Calvin cycle)
Calvin cycle
in the stroma of chloroplast
assembles sugar molecules using CO2 and energy-rich products
CO2 is incorporated into organic compounds through carbon fixation
aka dark reaction/light-independent reactions: cuz no light is directly needed
The Light Reactions
**Visible radiation drives light reactions
Sunlight contains: electromagnetic energy or electromagnetic radiation
visible light is only a small part of electromagnetic spectrum
wavelength is the distance between two crests or troughs
light behaves in packets of energy: photons
photons have a fixed quantity of light energy
short wavelength ----> high energy
Pigments
absorb some wavelengths of light
reflect or transmit others
built into thylakoid membrane
Different pigments in chloroplasts
Chlorophyll a: absorbs blue-violet, red; reflects green
Chlorophyll b: absorbs blue, orange; reflects yellow
Carotenoids (類胡蘿蔔素)
broaden spectrum of colours that drive photosynthesis
provide photoprotection; absorbing excessive energy
Photosystems capture solar energy
In thylakoid membranes, chlorophyll & other pigments
- absorbs photons
- transfer energy to other pigment molecules
Chlorophyll, other pigments and proteins are organised into photosystems
The complex acts as a light-gathering antenna
2 types of photosystems
- Photosystem II
- functions first
- called P680 (because it absorbs light with 680nm wavelength)
- Photosystem I
- functions second
- called P700 (because it absorbs light with 700nm wavelength)
Products of the light reactions:
NADPH
ATP
Oxygen
Two photosystems connect by electron transport chain producing ATP and NADPH
Electrons: photosystem II ----> photosystem I, providing energy to make ATP + reduce
NADP+ ----> NADPH
Photosystem II gets electrons when water is split and O2 is released
Light reactions happen in the thylakoid membranes
Photophosphorylation
- electron transport chain pumps H+ into thylakoid space
- concentration gradient drives H+ through ATP synthase
The Calvin Cycle
Three steps of the Calvin cycle
- carbon fixation
- reduction
- produce G3P
using carbon from CO2, electrons from NADPH, energy from ATP, to make G3P.
G3P is used to build organic molecules
most plants: CO2 from air is added to RuBP with enzyme (rubisco)
these plants are called C3 plants: first product is a 3-carbon compound (3-PGA)
In hot & dry weather, C3 plants
close stomata to lose less water
prevent CO2 from entering & O2 from leaving
as O2 builds up, O2 is added to RuBP ----> makes 2-carbon product (which turns
into CO2)
this is called photorespiration, uses ATP
Other methods of carbon fixation
Reasons alternate modes of carbon fixation was evolved
to minimize photorespiration
optimizes the Calvin cycle
C4 plants
- In hot & dry weather
- C4 plants keep their stomata partially closed
CAM plants 景天酸植物 (pineapples, cacti, aloe)
- In hot & dry weather
- only opening stomata at night to harvest CO2
- CO2 is fixed into a 4-carbon compound
saves CO2 for the day
Global Significance of Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis provides food and O2 for almost all living organisms
Cellular respiration of plant cells use around 50% of carbohydrates from photosynthesis
sugars are starting material for other organic molecules (e.g. proteins, lipids, cellulose)
excess food is stored in
roots
tubers
seeds
fruits
How rising CO2 levels may impact plants
scientists study the effects using laboratory growth chambers and field studies
study on poison ivy showed
average annual growth increase of 149% (in elevated CO2 levels)
produced more potent forms allergic compounds
Reducing fossil fuels and deforestation may control climate change
CO2 and other gases cause the greenhouse effect
global warming is a major aspect of climate change
Paris agreement (2015)
