CHLOROPHYLL Pigments

• Chlorophyll a -
“grass green” main
pigment. Other pigments
absorb light and transfer
energy to chlorophyll a
• Chlorophyll b -
“blueish-green” in plants,
algae and
photoautotrophic bacteria
Chlorophylls absorb very little of green and yellow-
green wavelengths of light
ACCESSORY Pigments
• Carotenoids - absorb the
wavelengths that chlorophylls
miss
– beta-carotene (appears orange,
in carrots)
– xanthophylls (appear yellow)
• Anthocyanins - flowers, appear
red and blue, red algae
• Phycobillins- purples and blues
• Chlorophyll
Molecule
– composed of a
magnesium atom
surrounded by a
nitrogen
containing
porphyrin ring.
Antenna Complex
A chloroplast
Light Dependent
Reactions of
Photosynthesis

Non-Cyclic
Photophosphorylation
The STEPS

1. A photon of light strikes

Photosystem II
reaction center. (p680)

The chloroplast absorbs

energy wavelengths best at
680 nanometers at PSII.

2. Electrons are
excited and one e-
jumps to a higher
energy level as
H2O is split
(photolysis).
Oxygen is released.
3. The Primary
Electron Acceptor
passes the electron
to an ELECTRON
TRANSPORT
CHAIN (E. T. C.)
4. ETC - within the thylakoid
membranes of the
chloroplast….

A series of enzymes,
coenzymes and other proteins
transfers electrons from one to
another (BIOCHEMICAL
PATHWAY)
 The E.T.C.
The biochemical pathway
consists of e- carriers
• PLASTOQUINONE (Pq)
• a complex of
CYTOCHROMES (cyt)---
similar to hemoglobin
molecule
• PLASTOCYANIN (Pc)
(contains Copper)
• The energy released through
the EXERGONIC cascade
through the E.T.C. powers the
production of ATP via the
enzyme ATP SYNTHASE
and a PROTON PUMP
• ATP production is called
PHOTOPHOSPHORYLATION
 ANOTHER PHOTON OF
LIGHT HITS!!!!!!!!!
5. Photosystem I
(p700) is EXCITED
and loses an
electron…..

The electron from the

E.T.C. replaces it…...
6. The electron is
passed to another
PRIMARY
ELECTRON
ACCEPTOR.
7. The e- moves
through another
electron transport
chain E.T.C. (shorter)

--uses e- carrier protein

FERRODOXIN(Fd)
8. At the end of the ETC,
and enzyme ( NADP+
REDUCTASE )
reduces NADP+ and
stores the electron as
NADPH