Photosynthesis: A2 Biology (9700) 2022-2023
Photosynthesis: A2 Biology (9700) 2022-2023
Photosynthesis: A2 Biology (9700) 2022-2023
A2 Biology ( 9700)
2022-2023
14/11/2022
Part 1
Photosynthesis
Way of nutrition
Heterotrophs Autotrophs
Feed on other living organisms to get their
energy Organisms that make their own food
Heterotrophic nutrition : involves the break Autotrophic nutrition : involves the building
down of organic matter into small soluble ones up organic complex compounds
Example : animals, fungi, and some bacteria carbohydrates, lipids , proteins from
inorganic molecules ( CO2 and water ) using
energy from sun
Photosynthesis
Stroma
Light dependent reactions Light independent reaction
Thylakoid Stroma
O2
H2O
2H+ + 2e+ 1/2O2 Thylakoid
Light dependent reaction
1. Light energy …photolysis
H2O …2e+ 2H+ + 1/2 O2 Use e- in ETC Reduction of
Oxygen excretory product To produce ATP NADP
: Electrons ..ETC …ATP
H+ ….reduced NADP
Light dependent
Thylakoid
H2O will undergo photolysis
Using light energy
A) oxygen……its an excretory product
B) e- …enter the ETC …ATP
C) H+ …to produce reduced NADP
Light independent
Stroma
CO2 will reduced using ATP and reduced NADP
To produce TP
Structure of chloroplast Inter granal lamella Circular DNA
Granum
B. Thylakoid
Stroma
70 S ribosomes 3
Electron carriers Photosystems
Starch grains
Chlorophyll a
Photosynthetic pigments Chlorophyll b
Carotenoids
% ATP synthase
←
Stroma
Colorless fluid contains starch grains, lipid droplets , 70S ribosomes and circular DNA
Site of light independent reaction …containing enzyme ( RUBISCO ) catalyse CO2 fixation
Stack of thylakoid Granal membrane provide large surface area for light energy absorption and
( granum) photosynthetic pigments for light dependent stage .
Granal membrane has many ATP synthase to for ATP by chemiosmosis in light
dependent stage
Has electron carriers for ETC
Circular loop of
Codes for proteins such as RUBISCO / ATP synthase
DNA
Cholorplast pigments
01093850599
The photosynthetic pigments :
Chlorophyll a ……………………yellow green …….430, 662nm….absorb red and blue violet
Chlorophyll b ……………………blue green ……453 , 642nm …..absorb red and blue violet
Carotenoids ………………….orange ……….450nm ……………..absorb blue violet light
Effectivness
A) absorption
B) energy. Content
Chromatography
B. Thylakoid
Stroma
70 S ribosomes
Starch grains
Light dependent ………….. ………………………………………light independent
Thylakoid Stroma
B) each photosystem
1. Accessory pigments ( carotenoids + chlorophyll b )
That absorb light at wave length not readily absorbed by chlorophyll a
Chlorophyll a in primary pigments ( reaction center ) …pass the energy to reaction
center containing pair of chlorophyll a molecules In photosystems
( PSI and PSII)
PSI --
PSII
Accessory pigments.
Carotenoids , Chlorophyll b,
Has reaction
center light
Has reaction center
absorption peak Reaction center
light absorption
700nm Primary pigment ( pair of chlorophyll a).
peak 680nm
Light dependent
1. The accessory pigments absorb light of many wave length that are not readily absorbed by primary
reaction
center ( pair of chlorophyll a)
And the energy transferred to the pair of chlorophyll a molecules in reaction center in PSI and PSII
chemiosmosis
Stroma µpÑ
6. ELECTRONS RETURN TO PSI
PSII PSI NADP
Non Cyclic photophosphorylation H2O
PSII
Photolysis
1. Splitting of water in PSII, where water splitting enzyme ( oxygen
evolving complex) ..during non cyclic photophosphorylation .
Where water split into protons , electrons and oxygen
H2O …..2H+ + 2e + 1/2 O2
Electron acceptor
ADP + Pi
H+
ATP
( by chemiosmosis ) 2é
NADPH= reduced
Energised electron d NADP
NADP
d P700
P680
Photolysis PSI
H2O
Photosystem II
Pathway for the electron in non cyclic
PSII
photophosphorylation .
2H+ + 2e- + 1/2O2 Path way taken by electrons in cyclic
photophosphorylation
Cyclic photophosphorylation Non cyclic photo
Photosystems
PSI PSI, PSII
involved
Mitochondria Chloroplast
Protons are Pumped into the inter Protons are Pumped into the
membrane space center thylakoid space
Oxygen act as final electron acceptor NADP is the final acceptor for H+
and e-
Produce water Makes reduced NADP
Important notice;
Accessory pigments:
Any photosynthetic pigment that absorbs light of many wavelengths not really absorbed
by primary pigment and the energy is transferred to the pair of chlorophyll a molecules
in the reaction centers of PSI and PSII.
Photophosphorylation
The process that takes place in photosynthesis to use light energy to drive the formation
of ATP.
Cyclic photophosphorylation:
r
Involves production of ATP without photolysis of water or production of reduced NADP.
ab
Electrons travel from PSI but instead of reaching NADP , they return to PSI.
Role of thylakoid:membrane .
In thylakoid (membrane )
Dr.Nihal Gabr 41
21/11/2022
Part 3
Limiting factors
Calvin cycle
1. CO2 diffuse down its concentration gradient into leaves through stomata , then diffuse through air spaces
of spongy mesophyll , then dissolve in layer of water on the cell surface , then diffuse through cell wall and cell
membrane into cytosol and through chloroplast into STROMA .
Substrate
GP (3C )
RuBP
production of unstable 6C compound .
( 5C) Reduced NADP
ATP Split into two 3C compound ( GP )
/
glycerate 3 phosphate .
Regeneration NADP
ADP + Pi
L
r 3. Hydrogenation ( CO2 reduction )
TP (3C )
ADP + Pi GP reduced and phosphorylated using ATP and
reduced NADP from light dependent stage /
ATP reaction ….to produce TP ( triose phosphate )
Glycerol Amino acids
4. Fate of TP
Acetyl CO A which 3 C sugar ……to form glucose .
1. Mostly recycled / regenerate RuBP using ATP
2. Part is converted into glycerol to be added to fatty acids to make triglycerides
3. Converted into acetyl Co A for use respiration
4. Converted into amino acids and fatty acids
*
↑
* ×
root
#
StromaniaiÉ RUBISCO
P
There are three environmental factors that have the most influence on the rate of photosynthesis.
Light intensity and wavelength
Temperature
r
Influences the activity of enzymes, so an
ab
increase leads to an increase in enzyme activity
up to optimum temperature . Both light Temp …Rubisco ..Light
dependent and light independent stages independent.
lG
involves enzymes , but temperature has a much
greater effect on the light independent stage.
Optimum temperature of plants is 25°C . Rubisco
iha
Carbon dioxide concentration
Dr.Nihal Gabr 45
Limiting factors
• An external environmental factor that is present in shortest Read
supply
and limits the rate of reaction(photosynthesis).
Photosynthesis is affected by more than one limiting factor .
• The rate of the process at any given moment is not affected by a combination of all the factors , but
rather by just one- the one whose level is at the least favourable value.This factor is called the
limiting factor because it only limits the rate at which the process can take place .However much
the levels of the other factors change , they don’t alter the rate of the process.
Example of light intensity limiting the rate of
photosynthesis:
3
1. In complete darkness, it is the absence of light
alone that prevents photosynthesis occurring.
2. No matter how much we raise or lower the
temperature or change the concentration of
r
carbon dioxide, there will be no photosynthesis .
Light or rather the absence of it, is the factor
ab
determining the rate of photosynthesis at that
moment.
3. If we provide light ,however the rate of
photosynthesis will increase.
4. lG
As we add more light, the more the rate
increases.This doesn’t continue indefinitely,
however, because there comes a point at which
further increase in light intensity have no effect on
iha
the rate of photosynthesis. • By looking at graph 1, the rate of photosynthesis
5. At this point some other factor , such as the increases as the light intensity increases (0 to A). light
concentration of carbon dioxide, is in short supply intensity is the LIMITING FACTOR. Beyond point A,
and so limits the process. light intensity is no longer the LIMITING FACTOR
6. Carbon dioxide now is the limiting factor and only since the rate remains constant even though the light
.N
an increase in its level will increase the rate of intensity increases. So, we have to consider other
photosynthesis. factors that could cause the rate to become constant
7. Further increase in carbon dioxide concentration (A to B).
levels will fail to have any effect.
Dr
8. At this point a different factor ,e.g temperature is • Graph 2 shows that the rate does not increase so
the limiting factor and only an alteration in its level much despite the temperature being increased from
will affect the rate of photosynthesis. 20 to 30°C (with the carbon dioxide being kept
constant). This means that temperature is not the
actual LIMITING FACTOR. But if the conditions are
reversed, the temperature being constant and the
carbon dioxide being increased from 0.03% to 0.13%,
the rate increases (Look at graph 3). Both of these
indicate that carbon dioxide concentration is the
LIMITING FACTOR in A to B (Graph 1).
Dr.Nihal Gabr 46
A: on increasing carbon dioxide concentration, rate of
it photosynthesis increases steeply , as carbon dioxide is
É o
a rate limiting factor , where most Rubisco active sites
are free so more chance of effective collision and more
Carbon dioxide fixation.
ofA
is still a rate limiting factor with another limiting factor
being introduced which may be concentration of
Rubisco.
r
concentration is no more a limiting factor, another
Substrate conc is limiting.
ab
limiting factor has been introduced , which is Rubisco
concentration , as all enzyme active sites are occupied
with substrate (carbon dioxide so Rubisco is working at
maximum capacity (v max.)
lG
• As light intensity increased, the volume of
iha
oxygen produced and carbon dioxide
absorbed due to photosynthesis will increase
to a point at which exactly balanced by the
oxygen absorbed and carbon dioxide
¥
.N
t
increase in light intensity will have no effect
on photosynthesis . At this point some other
factor such as carbon dioxide concentration
or temperature is limiting the reaction .
Higher respiration than photosynthesis
So over all there is a net production of CO2
Little photosynthesis is taking place
Dr.Nihal Gabr 47 Due to low light intensity
7 Growing plants in protected environments
• Farmers
and growers of protected crop (e.g tomatoes , lettuce and
cucumber) in temperate countries have fully automated
glasshouses with Sensore and computerised systems that maintain
suitable conditions for high rates of photosynthesis .
• These systems: Study
Control light intensity using artificial lighting and shading .
Control temperature with heaters and ventilation.
Enrich the carbon dioxide concentration of the air by burning hydrocarbons (e.g propane) or using
tanks of liquids carbon dioxide .
Temperature and Carbon dioxide regulated digitally through monitor to give optimum conditions for
r
maximum rate of photosynthesis.
ab
Supply water directly to the roots.
Use humidifiers to maintain a humidity appropriate for the crop.
Supply mineral nutrients directly( fertilisers or manure) to roots at the concentrations appropriate to the
•
growth stage of the crop.
lG
In the tropics, growers use plastic and mesh greenhouses to control the climate. Plastic protects
against heavy rain and the mesh provides protection against high light intensities and intense heat so
that salad crops are not scorched . Drip irrigation is used to reduce watering costs as water is supplied
iha
directly to the plants.
• Growing crops in protected environments has the added advantage of making it relatively easier to
control pests and diseases compared with field crops.
8
.N
C3 and C4 plants
"
• In the lightindependent stage of photosynthesis, carbon dioxide combines with RuBP to form a six
carbon compound, which immediately splits to form two three carbon molecules GP ....these
Dr
plants are called C3 plants( plants producing C3 compounds in the reaction to fix carbon
dioxide , these are more common in temperate climate) Rubisco favors the reaction
Oxygen competes with carbon dioxide for rubisco’s active site . with oxygen )
When this happens , rubisco catalyses a different reaction (photorespiration) that
"
produces only one molecule of GP and a 2C compound.....this reaction reduce
⑦ ooo
÷÷÷÷s
efficiency of photosynthesis by reducing efficiency of rubisco considerably.
This happens most readily in high temperatures and high light intensity.
• However, maize and sorghum plants-and most other tropical grasses- do something different . et
They have evolved a method of avoiding photorespiration. The first compound that is produced in
the light dependent reaction contains four carbon atoms.....so called C4 plants.
d
in
Dr.Nihal Gabr 48
Photosynthesis
1. Structure of chloroplast
Stroma; Site of light independent reaction …containing enzyme ( RUBISCO ) catalyse
CO2 fixation.
Thylakoids / grana : Granal membrane provides large surface area for light ENERGY
absorption and photosynthestic pigements of light dependent stage .
Granal membrane has many ATP synthase to form ATP by chemiosmosis in
dependent stage .
Has electron carriers to make ETC
Loop of DNA : Codes for proteins such as Rubisco / ATP synthase
2. Chloroplast pigments
5. Steps of chromatography
1. Mixture of pigments is concentrated in a spot at one end of paper strip .
Then dry and repeat
2. Then dipped in a solvent which moves up by capillarity .
3. Measure the distance travelled by the pigment , and the distance travelled by
the solvent
Then divide: distance travelled by the pigment spot by the distance travelled by
the solvent .
Calculate the Rf value
Compare the results with known Rf values to be able to identify pigment.
2. The energy excite the the electrons in pair of chlorophyll a …and the electrons
are taken up by electron acceptors ( carriers )
Taking two pathways through ETC .
Cyclic photophosphorylation
1. CO2 fixation
2. CO2 reduction
3. TP
1. Mostly recycled / regenerate RuBP using ATP
2. Part is converted into glycerol to be added to fatty acids to make triglycerides
3. Converted into acetyl Co A for use respiration
4. Converted into amino acids and fatty acids
4. Role of RuBISCO ….
5. Role of reduced NADP in light independent stage
6. Role of ATP in light independent stage
7. How illumination of chloroplast leads to optimum pH conditions for
RuBISCO enzyme ?
- RUBISCO is found in the stroma ….site of light independent reaction
- electrons excited from pair of chlorophyll a in PSII
- and pass along the ETC
- the protons ( photolysis of water ) are pumped into the thylakoid.
- so protons leaving the stroma raise pH