Photosynthesis 光合作用 is from the Greek word φώτο [photo] "light" and σύνθεσις [synthesis] “putting together”. It is a chemical process that converts carbon dioxide into organic compounds, using the energy from sunlight.
6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2
Chloroplast
In plants and algae, photosynthesis occurs in chloroplasts. A typical plant cell contains about 10-100 chloroplasts.
The chloroplasts is enclosed by a phospholipid membrane.
Within the membrane is an aqueous fluid ‘stroma’.
The stroma contains flattened discs ‘thylakoids’.
Liquid bounded within thyakoid membrane is ‘lumen’.
Stacks of thylakoids are ‘granum’ (singular), ‘grana’ (plural).
Grana are connected by ‘lamellae’.
Thylakoid membranes contains light-harvesting-proteins : ‘photosystem I – P700’ & ‘photosystem II – P680’
Thylakoid membranes also contains : electron transport chain ‘cytochrome b6f complex’ and ATP synthase ‘CF1FO-ATP’.
Thylakoids are the site of light-dependent reactions.
Stroma is the site of light-independent reactions.
Photosynthetic pigments
Pigments are chemical compounds which reflect only certain wavelength of visible light.
Chlorophylls are greenish pigments which contain a porphyrin ring.
Chlorophyll-a, found in all plants, algae and cyanobacteria.
Chlorophyll-b, found in plants and algae.
Chlorophyll-c, found in chromista and dinoflagellates.
Carotenoids
Carotene, an orange pigment.
Xanthophyll, a yellow pigment
Phaeophytin-a, a gray-brown pigment.
Phaeophytin-b, a yellow-brown pigment.
Bacteriochlorophylls are greenish pigments, found in Protobacteria, purple bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, Chloroflexi, and Heliobacteria.
Phycobiliproteins
Phycocyanin, a light blue accessory pigment, found in Cynobacteria.
Phycocyanin, a light blue accessory pigment, found in Cyanobacteria.
Allophycocyanin, a blue accessory pigment, found in Cyanobacteria and Rhodophyta.
Phycoerythrocyanin, a magenta accessory pigment, found in Cyanobacteria and Rhodophyta.
Fucoxanthin, a brown pigment, found in brown algae, diatoms and kelps.
Phycoerythrin, red pigment, found in Cyanobacteria, Rhodophyta and Cryptomonads.
Phycobilins, are red/blue pigments, found in Cyanobacteria, Rhodophyta, Cryptomonads and Glaucophtes.
Order & Kinetics
The overall process of photosynthesis takes place in 4 stages:
1. absorption of light
2. transport of electrons
3. synthesis of ATP
4. fixation of carbon
Reactions in stage 1, 2 & 3 are dependent of light energy, thus are called light dependent reactions.
Reactions in stage 4 are indirectly dependent on light energy, thus called light-independent reactions or dark reactions. However, in contrary to its name, dark reactions are not confined to the dark nor are they totally independent from light. Still, CAM plants’ dark reactions do happen at night.
1. Absorption of light ( Hill Reaction & Photolysis )
Site : Thylakoid membrane
photons + P680 → P680* → P680+ + e
2 H2O + 4 P680+ → 4 H+ + O2 ( to atmosphere )+ 4 P680
- O2 is released to the atmosphere
- 4 H+ (proton) enter photophosphorylation to form ATP
- 4 e- exit photosystem II, enter photosystem I via a electron transfer chain
2. Transport of electrons ( z-sheme )
Site : Thylakoid membrane
Electron transport chain PS2 :( Pheo – PQ – b6f – Pc – PS1 )
Electron transport chain PS1 : ( Rd – FNR )
Site : Chloroplast stroma : NADP+ + 2 H+ + 2 e- → NADPH + H+
Overall reaction of stage 1 & 2 : 2 H2O + NADP+ → 2 H+ + O2 + 2 NADPH
3. ATP synthesis ( photophosphorilation )
Site : Thylakoid membrane
- 4 e- transport via b6f synthesis ATP to pump H+ from stroma into lumen.
- Extra H+ inside lumen creates a gradient, resulting in H+ flow back via F0F1 complex out to stroma, creating another ATP.
4. Fixation of carbon ( Calvin Cycle )
Site : Stroma
- carbon is fixed into organic matter with the help of ATP and NAPDH from the light reactions.
6 CO2 + 18 ATP4- + 12 NAPDH + 12 H2O → C6H12O6 + 18 ADP3- + 18Pi2- + 12 NADP+ + 6 H+
