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photosynthesis Flashcards

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1
Q

components of a chloroplast

A

starch grains
circular DNA
outer membrane
inner membrane
intergranal lamellae
70s ribosomes
stroma
grana
thylakoid discs

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2
Q

outer membrane vs inner membrane of chloroplast

A

inner membrane is more selective than outer membrane bc it has less transport proteins

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3
Q

intergranal lamellae function

A

connect grana
allow for sharing of resources

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4
Q

stroma contains what

A

enzymes involved in the light-independent reaction (Calvin cycle)

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5
Q

what are the thylakoids the site of

A

light dependent reaction

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6
Q

thylakoid discs contain what

A

photosynthetic pigments embedded in the thylakoid membrane

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7
Q

rough size of a chloroplast

A

10um

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8
Q

describe and explain how proteins are produced in a chloroplast

A

requires 70s ribosomes and circular DNA (encodes many proteins involved in p/s)
mRNA transcribed from a gene within the circular DNA using RNA polymerase
mRNA translated by a 70s ribosome to form a sequence of amino acids (primary structure)

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9
Q

what are the 2 types of photosynthetic pigments

A

primary pigments
accessory pigments

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10
Q

examples of primary pigment

A

chlorophyll a and b

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11
Q

what wavelengths of light does chlorophyll a absorb

A

wavelengths of light in the blue and red regions of the visible spectrum

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12
Q

examples of accessory pigments

A

chlorophyll b
carotenoids
xanthophylls

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13
Q

purpose of accessory pigments

A

increase the range of wavelengths of light that can be absorbed (so increase the rate of photosynthesis bc more energy can be captured from sunlight)

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14
Q

5 types of chlorophyll

A

chlorophyll a,b,c,d and bacteriochlorophyll

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15
Q

structure of chlorophyll molecule

A

hydrophobic till that inserts into the thylakoid membrane
porphyrin ring head that absorbs light

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16
Q

what makes chlorophyll a different to chlorophyll b

A

A converts light energy to chemical energy

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17
Q

what contains chlorophyll a vs b

A

all photosynthetic plants, algae and cyanobacteria contain chlorophyll a
only plants and green algae contain chlorophyll b, along w/ a few types of cyanobacteria

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18
Q

what wavelengths of light do carotenoids absorb

A

violet and blue-green

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19
Q

use of carotenoids (animals)

A

used as advertisements to attract animals, which can help the plant’s seeds
(e.g. red of tomato, yellow of corn seeds, orange of orange peel)

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20
Q

carotenoids function (p/s)

A

help capture light
get rid of excess light energy: when a leaf is exposed to full sun, it receives a huge amount of energy; if that energy is not handled properly, it can damage the photosynthetic machinery
carotenoids in chloroplasts help absorb the excess energy and dissipate it as heat

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21
Q

what does an absorption spectra show

A

the range of wavelengths of light that can be absorbed by certain pigments (shows individual pigments)w

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22
Q

what does an action spectra show?

A

the rate of photosynthesis at each wavelength of light (incorporates absorption of all pigments)

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23
Q

what is a photosystem

A

a light-harvesting complex embedded in the thylakoid membrane

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24
Q

components of a photosystem

A

accessory pigments
reaction centre
chlorophyll a

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25
outline the importance of photosynthetic pigments in photosynthesis
primary pigments (e.g. chlorophyll a) absorb photons and excite electrons accessory pigments channel light energy towards the primary pigment and increase the range of wavelengths of light that can be absorbed this produces ATP and rescued NADP (NADPH), which can then be used in the light-independent stage
26
oxidation is?
loss of electrons loss of hydrogen atoms gain of oxygen
27
reduction is?
gain of electrons gain of hydrogen atoms loss of oxygen
28
what are the 2 stages of photosynthesis
light dependent stage light independent stage
29
where does the light dependent stage of p/s take place
thylakoid membrane
30
where does light independent stage of p/s take place
stroma
31
first step of light-dependent stage of photosynthesis? ( in ps1 )
a photon of light is channelled through photosystem 2 towards the reaction centre it hits chlorophyll, which excites electrons water is split in photolysis by a water-splitting enzyme into H atoms and O2. each H atom splits into a proton (H+) and an electron
32
what happens to the hydrogen, oxygen and electrons after photolysis
the H+ are used in the synthesis of ATP and form proton gradient the electrons are fed back in to the chlorophyll a of PS2 to reduce it so that another electron can be excited by a photon of light the oxygen is used in aerobic respiration or diffuses out of the stomata
33
chemical equation for photolysis of water
H2O -> 2H+ + 2e- + 1/2O2
34
what happens to chlorophyll a when photon of light hits the photosystem?
it is oxidised
35
stages 2 and 3 of light-dependent stage of photosynthesis? (between PS 1 and 2)
excited electrons are accepted by an electron acceptor protein electrons lose energy as they move through a chain of electron carrier proteins. this energy is transferred to protons, which pumps them from the storm, across the thylakoid membrane, into the thylakoid membrane, creating a steep proton gradient
36
stage 4 of light-dependent stage of photosynthesis? (moving to PS1)
H+ ions flow through ATP synthase channels down their electrochemical gradient (chemiosmosis) they allow ADP and Pi to combine and form ATP (photophosphorylation) electrons are accepted by photosystem 1
37
stage 5 of light-dependent stage of photosynthesis? ( leaving PS2 )
electrons are re-excited by another photon to a higher energy level electrons pass through another chain of electron carrier proteins (energy lost transferred to H+ to continue being pumped from storm) electrons recombine with H+ to form H atoms H atoms are added to NADP to reduce it
38
chemical equation NADP reduction
NADP+ -> NADPH2 uses 2H and NADP reductase
39
what is ATP synthase
a transmembrane protein
40
ATP synthase function
H+ flow through ATP synthase by chemiosmosis and proton motive force energy is converted from mechanical/kinetic to chemical ADP + Pi -> ATP
41
what is photolysis
the splitting of water molecules using light energy
42
what is photolysis catalysed by?
a water-splitting enzyme/oxygen-evolving complex
43
describe cyclic photophosphorylation
electrons excited from PS1 are unable to be accepted by NADP, so return to PS1 via another chain of electron carriers a steep proton gradient is maintained so ATP continues to be made
44
where does more cyclic phosphorylation occur
in cells with less chloroplasts (carry out less p/s) e.g. more cyclic than non-cyclic in guard cells compared to mesophyll
45
photosystems involved in cyclic vs non-cyclic phosphorylation
cyclic: PS1 non-cyclic: PS1 and PS2
46
does photolysis of water occur in cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation?
cyclic: no non-cyclic: yes
47
what is the electron donor in cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation?
cyclic: PS1 (chlorophyll a) non-cyclic: water
48
what is the final electron acceptor in cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation?
cyclic: PS1 non-cyclic: NADP
49
products of cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation?
cyclic: ATP non-cyclic: NAPH + ATP +O2
50
what does the manganese ion at the centre of the oxygen-evolving complex act as?
cofactor
51
which pair of areas within a chloroplast shows the steepest pH gradient between them?
stroma and the space within the thylakoid membrane (thylakoid lumen)
52
what does the light-independent stage of p/s require?
products of the light-dependent reaction: NADPH (provides reducing power) ATP (releases energy when hydrolysed to ADP and Pi)
53
does the Calvin cycle require light
does not require photons to occur but still requires the products of the light dependent stage
54
input to Calvin cycle? where does it come from?
CO2 enters plant through the stomata
55
what is rubisco
enzyme that catalyses the fixation go CO2 to RuBP
56
describe Calvin cycle
RuBP is carboxylsed (CO2 added), catalysed by enzyme RuBisCO unstable 6-carbon intermediate formed unstable compound splits and breaks down into 2 molecules of 3-carbon GP GP is converted to TP (catalysed by ATP, which is hydrolysed into ADP and Pi, and NADPH, which is oxidised to produce NADP+) 1/6 of TP leave Calvin cycle 5/6 of TP are regenerated to form RuBp (requiring ATP, which is hydrolysed to produce ADP and Pi)
57
what does RuBP stand for
ribulose-1.5.-biphosphate
58
what does GP stand for
glycerate-3-phosphate
59
what does TP stand for
triode phosphate
60
what happens to the 1/6 of TP molecules which leaves the Calvin cycle
can be converted into glucose, starch, cellulose, amino acids, glycerol etc this varies dependent on the metabolic requirements of the plant
61
how many turns of the Calvin cycle are necessary to make one molecule of glucose?
6
62
what is RuBisCO subject to competitive inhibition from?
oxygen formed from the photolysis of water in non-cyclic phosphorylation
63
explain the role of ATP in the light independent stage of photosynthesis
hydrolysed to release energy for conversion of GP to TP and regeneration of RuBP from TP
64
why are plants which only possess photosystem 1 unable to produce sugars
PS1 is only responsible for ATP production by cyclic phosphorylation therefore NADP is NOT reduced so GP cannot be converted to TP
65
explain why the concentration of GP in chloroplasts increases as light intensity decreases at sunset
decreased light intensity so less photons to excite electrons from PS2 therefore less NADPH and ATP produced therefore less conversion of GP to TP can take place but CO2 still available so RuBP still carboxylated to GP therefore GP conc increases
66
state and explain the effect of a decrease in CO2 conc on the cones of RuBP, GP and TP
less CO2 means less RuBP fixed to GP therefore less GP produced therefore less TP produced RuBP accumulates so RuBP conc increases
67
4 factors affecting p/s rate
light intensity CO2 concentration temperature water stress
68
how does light intensity affect rate of photosynthesis
1. increasing light intensity increases photons so increases excitation of electrons, so more ATP formed, so more reduced NADP formed so increased rate of p/s 2. LI no longer limiting (CO2 conc/temperature are now limiting)
69
how does CO2 conc affect rate of photosynthesis
1.increasing CO2 conc increases rate of carbon fixation by rubisco (RuBP to GP) 2. other factors become limiting e.g. temperature and light intensity)
70
how does temperature affect rate of photosynthesis
at lower temps, enzymes and substrates have limited KE so are unlikely to form ESCs therefore decreased frequency of collisions so v. low rate as temp increases, enzymes and substrates gain KE, so frequency of successful collisions increases active site starts to change shape (i.e. tertiary structure changes so denaturation)
71
what is water stress
occurs when there is insufficient water in the soil abscisic acid (ABA) synthesised in the root and transported up the xylem in the transpiration stream ABA acts on receptors on the guard cell plasma membranes so ions are pumped (AT) out of guard cells; water follows by osmosis down a WP gradient so guard cells become flaccid and stomata close
72
why does a leaf in the sun have a greater depth of palisade mesophyll than a leaf in the shade?
more photons available so more photosystems required to absorb the available light energy
73
how much of available light energy is used
around 0.5% the remainder is reflected/transmitted
74
how does a shade leaf differ from a sun leaf
more air spaces in shade leaf so more CO2 available for Calvin cycle shade leaf is thinner so photons have a shorter distance to travel palisade mesophyll shallower in shade leaf
75
what is a compensation point
when rate of p/s is equal to rate of respiration
76
what is compensation point based on?
temperature and light intensity
77
what is equal at compensation point
rate of p/s and rest net CO2 uptake and production net sugar production and use
78
why does a shade plant have a lower compensation point
able to use more of the available light energy for p/s
79
explain changes in levels of GP and RuBP when light is switched off
no light= no photons to excite electrons from PS2 therefore no NADPH produced (and less ATP produced in LDR) therefore no conversion of GP to TP CO2 still available so GP accumulates as RuBP fixed to GP so GP levels increase less TP means less regeneration of RuBP therefore RuBP levels decrease
80
photosynthesis is a type of what nutrition?
autotrophic (production os organic compounds from simple inorganic compounds using an external source of energy (light as photons))
81
what technique is used to separate pigments from a plant using solvents
chromatography

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