ch 10 Flashcards
(30 cards)
photosynthesis
the process that converts solar energy into chemical energy
autotrophs
organisms that sustain themselves without eating anything derived from other organisms
chemosynthesis
organisms build organic molecules using energy from oxidation of inorganic molecules such as hydrogen gas, hydrogen sulfide, or methane
where do most chemosynthetic organisms live
in oceans near hydrothermal vents
heterotrophs
organisms that obtain their organic material from other organisms
chloroplasrs
site of photosynthesis
organelles responsible for feeding the vast majority of organisms
contain the grandma thylakoids
leaves are major location of photosynthesis
found mainly in cells of mesothelioma (interior tissue of leaf)
chlorophyll
green pigment in chloroplast
absorbs light energy to drive synthesis of organic molecules in chloroplast
in the membranes of thylakoids
how does CO2 enter the leaf
through the stomata, and O2 exits
photosynthesis equation
6CO2 + 12H2O + Light Energy —> C6H12O6 + 6O2 + 6H2O
two stages of photosynthesis
light reactions (photo part)
calvin cycle (synthesis part)
where do light reactions occur
in the thylakoids
brief summary of light reactions
light absorbed by the chlorophyll in the thylakoid drives transfer
of electrons to NADP+ forming NADPH
water is split in process and O2 is released
also generates ATP using chemiosmosis in a process called photophosphorylation
where does calvin cycle occur
in the stroma
begins with incorporation of CO2 into organic molecules and fixed carbon is reduced with electrons from NADPH
ATP powers calvin cycle
light is a form of electromagnetic energy
what does this mean
light travels in rhythmic waves
wavelength determines the type of electromagnetic energy
light also behaves as though it consists of photons
how does wavelength affect photosynthesis
pigments absorb visible light
certain pigments absorb certain wavelengths
leaves appear green because it absorbs every color but reflects green
violet-blue and red light work best for psyn
two systems of light reactions
photo system II (best at absorbing 680nm)
photo system I (best at absorbing (700nm)
what occurs in photo system II
The pigment molecules bound to the photo system protein absorb the light energy and transfer among other pigment molecules until the energy reaches the reaction center. This energy energizes the chlorophyll a molecule in the reaction center that it causes an electron to escape (captured by primary acceptor molecules)
the electrons released are then replaced by H2O which is split by an enzyme
electrons are sent down an ETC and the chain captures energy to create a H+ gradient
the gradient causes the ATP synthase to work and produce ATP
what occurs in Photosystem I
Pigment molecules are energized through light energy and transfer it to the chlorophyll a in the reaction center
energized electrons then leave chlorophyll a and go to primary acceptor
the electrons from PSII come down the ETC and replace the electrons that left chlorophyll a
the primary acceptor passes electrons down another ETC that pass it to NADP+
each NADP+ accepts 2 electrons and H+ to form NADPH
cyclic electron flow
cytochrome complex
using only photosystem I
the cyclic electron flow generates surplus ATP satisfying the higher demand for ATP in calvin cycle
difference between chemiosmosis in chloroplasts and mitochondria
chloroplasts and mitochondria generate ATP by chemiosmosis but use different sources of energy
mitochondria transfers chemical energy from food to ATP
Chloroplasts transforms light energy into chemical energy of ATP
spatial organization of chemiosmosis differs ( intermembrane space and matrix vs stroma and thylakoid space)
calvin cycle
series of reactions producing carbohydrates before returning to starting point
uses co2 from atmosphere to produce sugars by using ATP and the reducing power of electrons carried by NADPH
carbon enters cycle as CO2 and leaves as G3P
cycle must occur 3 times for one G3P
three phases of calvin cycle
carbon fixation
reduction
regeneration of CO2 acceptor (RuBP0
carbon fixation
CO2 is attached to RuBP to form one 6C molecule
this is immediately split into 2 3C molecules
RuBP is a slow enzyme
reduction of CO2
each 3C molecule undergoes a reduction in 2 steps using some ATP and NADPH
each 3C receives another phosphate from ATP
pair of electrons from NADPH reduces that molecule to G3P
one G3P leaves