TOPIC: PHOTOSYNTHESIS

OBJECTIVES:
▪ DEFINE PHOTOSYNTHESIS;
▪ DETERMINE THE DIFFERENT STRUCTURES AND PROCESS
INVOLVED IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS;
▪ CITE SIGNIFICANCE OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS IN REAL LIFE
SITUATIONS.
Photosynthesis
❑ is the process by which plants, some bacteria and some protistans use the
energy from sunlight to produce glucose from carbon dioxide and water.
❑ IT IS THE FOOD PRODUCTION PROCESS HAPPENED IN PLANTS ONLY.

ECOSYSTEM
AUTOTROPHS Organisms according to their ability HETEROTROPHS
of food production

➢ Organisms that can produce ➢ Organisms that cannot

their own food. produce their own food.
Photosynthesis
An anabolic, endergonic, carbon dioxide (CO2) requiring
process that uses light energy (photons) and water (H2O) to
produce organic macromolecules (glucose).

SUN
photons

light

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

glucose
RECAP:
How do plants manufacture their own food?
✓ Through the process of Photosynthesis

What are the essential factors needed by plant to

Undergo the process of photosynthesis ?
✓Light, Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Water (H2O)
What are the end products of Photosynthesis?
✓Glucose (C6H12O6) and 6 O2
 Question:
•Where does
photosynthesis take
place?
Plants 1. Leaves
A. STOMATA (STOMA)
B. MESOPHYLL CELLS
C. CHLOROPLAST

Mesophyll Chloroplast
Cell Stoma
 Stomata (stoma)
• Pores in a plant’s cuticle through which water and gases
are exchanged between the plant and the atmosphere.
Oxygen
(O2)

Carbon Dioxide
Guard Cell Guard Cell
(CO2)
 Mesophyll Cell
are specialized for photosynthesis.
Nucleus
Cell Wall

Central Vacuole
Chloroplast
 Chloroplast
Organelle where photosynthesis takes place.

Stroma
Outer Membrane Thylakoid Granum
Inner Membrane
QUESTION:
WHY ARE PLANTS
GREEN?
Plants are green because their cells contain chloroplasts which
have the pigment chlorophyll.
CHLOROPHYLL
is the pigment that gives plants and algae their green color.
Plants are green because the green wavelength is reflected,
not absorbed.
QUESTION:

DURING THE FALL,

WHAT CAUSES THE
LEAVES TO CHANGE
COLORS?
 FALL COLORS
IN ADDITION TO THE CHLOROPHYLL PIGMENTS, THERE ARE OTHER
PIGMENTS PRESENT.

DURING THE FALL, THE GREEN CHLOROPHYLL PIGMENTS ARE

GREATLY REDUCED REVEALING THE OTHER PIGMENTS.

CAROTENOIDS ARE PIGMENTS THAT ARE EITHER RED OR

YELLOW.
Photosynthesis takes place in two sequential
stages:

PART I: LIGHT DEPENDENT REACTION;

PART II: LIGHT INDEPENDENT REACTION

(CALVIN CYCLE)
In the light-dependent reactions, energy from sunlight is absorbed by
chlorophyll and converted into stored chemical energy, in the form of
the electron carrier molecule NADPH (nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate) and the energy currency molecule ATP
(adenosine triphosphate).

The light-dependent reactions take place in the thylakoid membranes

in the granum (stack of thylakoids), within the chloroplast.

It uses light energy (photons) to produce NADPH and ATP

CROSS-SECTION OF A THYLAKOID MEMBRANE
ATP (Adenosine triphosphate)- compound that stores
energy in the cell.

NADP (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate)

- a chemical that pick up two hydrogen atoms from
water molecules to form NADPH.

NADPH- reduced form NADP, which is a powerful reducing

agent for converting CO2 to glucose.
- produced from electron transport chain
-It plays an important role in light independent
reaction.
 PHOTOSYSTEMS

• -these are pigment-

containing protein
complexes that contain
reaction centers.
• -has two types: PS1 and PS2.
 PARTS OF THE PHOTOSYSTEMS

• Absorbing Pigments- first pigment to be

struck by the photons (light energy)
• Antenna Pigments- the pigments which
is responsible for the light energy to
bounce from the absorbing pigments
until it reaches the reaction center
where the excitation of electrons will
happen.
 LIGHT DEPENDENT
REACTION

2 groups of light absorbing molecules

PHOTOSYSTEM I PHOTOSYSTEM II

2. Electrons from this group 1. Functions first in the steps

reduces the coenzyme, that make up the light
NADP+ to NADPH reaction.

3. Regains electrons by
splitting water and releasing
oxygen.
TABLE OF COMPARISON BETWEEN PS1 AND PS2
STAGES OF LIGHT DEPENDENT REACTION

1. Excitation of photosystems and photolysis of

water
2. Generation of ATP by electron transport chain
3. Formation of NADPH
 STAGE 1: EXCITATION OF PHOTOSYSTEMS AND
PHOTOLYSIS OF WATER

• -It starts when the sunlight will hit first

the PS II with Pigment-680 reaction
center.
• - When the sunlight hits it, the energy
will make an electron inside of it to
become excited (unstable, in high energy
state).
• -Since this electron is unstable, it tends
to jump from one molecule to another.
 STAGE 1: EXCITATION OF PHOTOSYSTEMS AND
PHOTOLYSIS OF WATER

• -As it moves from one molecule to

another, it's energy is being used and
depleted, making it become stable or
in low energy state.
• -Now, the molecules (electron
acceptors) that accept this electron
comprises the electron transport
chain of the photosynthesis.
 STAGE 1: EXCITATION OF PHOTOSYSTEMS AND
PHOTOLYSIS OF WATER

• These molecules include:

-pheophytin (located inside the PS2)-
primary electron acceptor for PS2
-plastoquinone
-cytochrome
-Plastocyanin
-PSI
-
 STAGE 1: EXCITATION OF PHOTOSYSTEMS AND
PHOTOLYSIS OF WATER

• -When an electron left the PS2 after it is

made excited by the sunlight, it will be
replaced by another electron from the
water molecule because when the PS2
lost its electron, it becomes a very
strong oxidizing agent- it makes
the PS2 to become aggressive in
stealing electrons from the water
molecules.
 STAGE 1: EXCITATION OF PHOTOSYSTEMS AND
PHOTOLYSIS OF WATER

• Once the water molecules loses its

electron, it will split into oxygen
and hydrogen. Hydrogen will serve
as an ion which are still essential
for the plants, and Oxygen will be
released to the atmosphere.
• Oxygen- the main product (waste
product) of this stage.
 STAGE 2: GENERATION OF ATP BY ELECTRON
TRANSPORT CHAIN

• It starts when the electron inside

of the PS2 becomes excited
because of the photons, it will
jump from one molecule to
another.
• As it jumps, it releases energy and
these energy builds up in the
stroma.
 STAGE 2: GENERATION OF ATP BY ELECTRON
TRANSPORT CHAIN

• Then these energy build-up will

force the hydrogen ions to move
or transfer from the stroma to the
thylakoid lumen.
• Because of this, the amount of
hydrogen ions inside the lumen is
increasing, creating a concentration
gradient.
 STAGE 2: GENERATION OF ATP BY ELECTRON
TRANSPORT CHAIN

• When there is a concentration

gradient, the hydrogen ions will move
from higher concentration to lower
concentration (from thylakoid lumen
to chloroplast stroma) with the help of
a transport protein called ATP
synthase. and this process of
movement of ions is called
CHEMIOSMOSIS.
 STAGE 2: GENERATION OF ATP BY ELECTRON
TRANSPORT CHAIN

• Due to the movement of these

hydrogen ions with the help of
ATP synthase, these hydrogen
ions fuels up the ATP synthase to
produce ATP from ADP.
• The final product here is the
ATP.
 STAGE 3: FORMATION OF NADPH (NICOTINAMIDE
ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHATE)
-It starts when the electron from
the PS2 reaches the PS1 (it's energy
is in low state).
-Since the PS1 is another light-
absorbing pigment, it will absorb
light and as it absorbs light, it will
excite that electron again (high-
energy state).
 STAGE 3: FORMATION OF NADPH (NICOTINAMIDE
ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHATE)

-Then, that electron will tend to

jump again to the last two another
electron acceptor which is the
ferredoxin and the NADP+
(Nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate)
 STAGE 3: FORMATION OF NADPH (NICOTINAMIDE
ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHATE)

-Now that the electron attaches to

the final electron acceptor
(NADP+), it will now have the ability
to attract hydrogen ions to it and
after that, it becomes NADPH.
-This NADPH will be used in the
2nd stage of photosynthesis.
TAKE NOTE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NADP+
AND NADPH WHEN IT COMES TO ITS STRUCTURE?

• The main difference between NADP+ and NADPH is that

NADP+ is the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine
dinucleotide phosphate (NADP), while NADPH is the reduced
form.
• NADP+ underwent Redox reaction, wherein it received an
electron from the electron transport chain from PSII.
TAKE NOTE: WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NADP+
AND NADPH WHEN IT COMES TO ITS USAGE?

• NADP+ - in photosynthesis, it is used as an electron

acceptor in the Electron Transport Chain.
• NADPH - It helps to fuel the reactions that occur in
the second stage of the process of photosynthesis.
SUMMARY—LIGHT DEPENDENT
REACTIONS

OVER-ALL INPUT
▪ Light Energy and Water (H2O)

OVER-ALL OUTPUT
▪ ATP, NADPH and Oxygen gas (O2)
RECAP
Compound that stores energy in the cell.
✓ ATP
Phase that needs light energy from the sun that is absorbed by
the chlorophyll.
✓ LIGHT REACTION

What are the 2 groups of light absorbing materials in Light

Reaction?
✓ PHOTOSYSTEM 1
✓ PHOTOSYSTEM 2
PHASE 2: Light independent Reaction or Calvin Cycle

• It doesn’t need light to start the

process.
• It occurs in the stroma of the
chloroplast.
• Consists of cyclical series of
reactions that use enzymes to
assemble sugar molecules from
CO2 and the products of the light
dependent reaction.
Light-independent reaction (Dark Reaction)
Requires CO2
Uses ATP and NADPH as fuel to run
Makes glucose sugar from CO2 and Hydrogen
 WHY IS IT ALSO CALLED AS “CALVIN CYCLE”?

• The Calvin Cycle is named after

Melvin C. Calvin, an American
Biochemist, who won a Nobel Prize
in Chemistry for discovering it in
1961. Calvin and his colleagues,
Andrew Benson and James
Bassham did the work at the
University of California, Berkeley.
ANDREW BENSON JAMES BASSHAM
STAGES OF CALVIN CYCLE

•Stage 1: Carbon Fixation

•Stage 2: Reduction
•Stage 3: Regeneration
STAGE 1: CARBON FIXATION
• -During this stage, the inorganic
carbons (carbon dioxide) are
converted to organic compounds.
• -It starts when the carbon from
the carbon dioxide will be
attached or fixed to an organic
molecule called ribulose 1,5-
biphosphate (also known as RuBP,
a 5-carbon molecule) to form a 6-
carbon molecule.
STAGE 1: CARBON FIXATION
• -This 6-carbon molecule is very
unstable. Because of this, upon
forming, it will split into two 3-
carbon molecule called the 3PGA
or 3-phosphoglycerate. These
3PGA molecules are the first
stable compound formed.
• -This entire process is catalyzed by
an enzyme called RuBisCo or
Ribulose Biphosphate
Carboxylase-Oxygenase.
STAGE 2: REDUCTION
• -Aims to convert organic carbons
(3-PGA or 3-phosphoglycerate)
into simple sugars.
• -It start when the 3-PGA
undergoes electron-gaining
reduction, wherein each of these
3-PGA molecules gain an electron
from the ATP and NADPH that
were produced from the light-
dependent reactions.
STAGE 2: REDUCTION
• -Once it gains an electron, it will
be reduced to Glyceraldehyde 3-
Phosphate (G3P).
• -When the ATP and NADPH
released its electrons for the 3-
PGA, they will be reduced to ADP
and NADP+ and will be returned
to the thylakoid membranes where
it will be reused in the light-
dependent reactions.
STAGE 2: REDUCTION
• -Remember that after this
process, we still have 6
carbons here coming
from the 2
molecules/compounds of
G3P.
Times 2
STAGE 3: REGENERATION
• -Aims to regenerate the
ribulose 1,5-biphosphate
(RuBP) from the two
molecules of
glyceraldehyde 3-
phosphate (G3P).
Times 2
STAGE 3: REGENERATION
• It requires 5 carbons from
the two molecules of G3P
for the Ribulose 1, 5-
Biphosphate (RuBP) to
regenerate.
• G3P is converted back to
RuBP using a series of
reactions that require ATP
and specific enzymes. Times 2
STAGE 3: REGENERATION
• -Once the RuBP is formed
again, the Calvin Cycle will
goes on and on and on.
• -Then, the remaining 1
carbon from the two
molecules of G3P will be
used to form sugar Remaining
carbon
Times 2
molecules.
FORMATION OF SUGAR
MOLECULES
• The type of sugar that is
being formed in the
process of Calvin Cycle is
what we called
GLUCOSE.
• Glucose is composed of
six-carbon molecule. Times 2
FORMATION OF SUGAR
MOLECULES Times 6
• In order to create a six-carbon
glucose molecule, the Calvin
Cycle must circulate SIX times in
order for it to be formed or
created.
• Once the glucose is formed, this
will be modified to another form
of carbohydrates such as sucrose,
fructose, starch, cellulose etc. Remaining
carbon
times 6 also Times 2
 TAKE NOTE:

• 1. Two molecules of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate (G3P) is used

to make one molecule of glucose phosphate. Overall, it
requires twelve molecules of it in order for the 6-carbon
glucose to be created.
• 2. Glucose can be modified to form other molecules such as
sucrose, starch, and cellulose.
• 3. Glucose is the FINAL product of PHOTOSYNTHESIS!!!
 QUESTION TO PONDER: "WHY CAN'T THE PLANTS JUST
MAKE A CHAIN OF CARBON FROM THE CARBON
DIOXIDE TO FORM SIX-CARBON GLUCOSE?"

• Answer: According to the energy transformation, when we build up molecules,

it is highly endergonic, meaning it requires a high input of energy: and this
endergonic process must be coupled to exergonic processes which involves the
NADPH and the ATP molecules to bring down the energy expenditures by
coupling an endergonic reactions with an exergonic reactions in order for our
system to become efficient. If you will notice, the entire process of
photosynthesis starts with building up, breaking down of molecules, then
another building up, breaking down of molecules, and so on.
SUMMARY—LIGHT
INDEPENDENT REACTIONS

Overall input
CO2, ATP, NADPH.

Overall output
glucose
LIGHT REACTION VS. DARK REACTION
MORE FACTS ABOUT PHOTOSYNTHESIS
 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

• What affects
photosynthesis?
• Light intensity: as
light increases, rate of
photosynthesis increases
 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

• What affects
photosynthesis?
• Carbon Dioxide: As
CO2 increases, rate of
photosynthesis increases
 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

• What affects photosynthesis?

• Temperature:
• Temperature Low = Rate of
photosynthesis low
• Temperature Increases = Rate
of photosynthesis increases
• If temperature too hot, rate
drops
 REMEMBER

❑ PHOTOSYNTHESIS IS A MULTI-STEP PROCESS WHEREBY THE

LIGHT ENERGY IS TRAPPED BY CHLOROPHYLL IN PLANTS AND
CONVERTED INTO CHEMICAL ENERGY.

❑ THIS PROCESS IS POSSIBLE UPON THE PRESENCE OF THE

DIFFERENT STRUCTURES OF THE PLANTS WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE
ON THE CONDUCT OF THE DIFFERENT PROCESSES.
ANY QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR
LISTENING!!! ^-~