Photosynthesis (5.5-5.9) Flashcards
(37 cards)
Calvin cycle
The group of light-independent reactions involved in photosynthesis
Produces GALP from CO2 and a 5C molecule
Carbon fixation (Calvin cycle)
The addition of CO2 to RUBP to form an unstable 6 carbon intermediate in the Calvin cycle catalysed by RuBisCO
Chlorophyll
The main photosynthetic pigment found in chloroplasts which is used to capture energy from light during photosynthesis.
Chloroplast
An organelle found in plants and algae which is the site of photosynthesis.
Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (GALP)
The 3 carbon molecule produced by the reduction of GP by reduced NADP using the energy provided by the hydrolysis of ATP.
Glycerate 3-phosphate (GP)
The 3 carbon molecule produced by the spontaneous breakdown of the 6 carbon product of carbon fixation.
Granum
A stack of thylakoids.
Photolysis of water
Light energy splits water into protons, electrons and oxygen
Helps replace electrons in PS2
Photophosphorylation of ATP
A phosphate group is added onto ADP to form ATP using light energy
Photosynthesis
The process of using light energy to carry out the photolysis of water and store the hydrogen in organic molecules by combining it with carbon dioxide
RuBisCO
The enzyme used to fix carbon dioxide in the Calvin cycle.
Stroma
The liquid portion of the chloroplasts where the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis take place.
Thylakoids
Flattened membrane-bound sacs found inside chloroplasts which are the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.
ATP synthase
Catalyses the phosphorylation of ADP to ATP by transporting hydrogens back down their concentration gradient
Products of light dependent reaction
ATP (made from ADP and Pi in photophosphorylation)
reduced NADP (from NADP)
Protons, hydrogen and oxygen (from photolysis of water)
Hydrolysis
The splitting of a molecule using water
Photosynthesis equation
6CO2 + 6H2O + energy -> C6H12O6 + 6O2
NADP
An enzyme which transfers hydrogen from one molecule to another
Light dependent reaction stages
- Light energy causes photolysis of water, forming protons, electrons and oxygen
- Light strikes chlorophyl molecules in PS2, causing electrons to become excited and emitted
- Electrons pass down electron transport chain
- Energy lost at each transfer is used to pump protons from stroma into thylakoid lumen
- The protons then move back down their concentration gradient into the stroma via ATP synthase (chemiosmosis)
- ATP is formed in this process called photophosphorylation
- Light excites PS1 electrons which transfer to NADP to from reduced NADP with the help of a proton
Role of photosystem 1
Absorbs light energy to excite electrons which convert NADP to reduced NADP with the help of a proton
Role of photosystem 2
Absorbs light energy which excites electrons in the chlorophyl which then pass down an electron transport chain into PS1
ATP synthase
An enzyme which allows protons to move down their concentration gradient from the thylakoid lumen to the stroma
Converts ADP and Pi into ATP
Non cyclic photophosphorylation
Uses both photosystems to produce ATP, reduced NADP and O2
Cyclic photophosphorylation
Only uses PS1 to only produce small amounts of ATP
The electrons are passed back to PS1 instead of onto NADP