Photosynthesis

Overview of photosynthesis
During photosynthesis, light energy is captured by pigment molecules and is used to power the
synthesis of carbohydrates. The overall process can be summarized with this simple equation.

The reactions of photosynthesis can be divided into two phases namely;

1. Light dependent reactions
2. Carbon fixation reactions ( Light independent reaction ).
Each set of reactions occur in different parts of the chloroplast.
The light dependent reaction occur in the thylakoids.
The carbon dependent reactions occur in the stroma.

Before we look at the reactions in the light dependent phase, let us say a few things about light
and the pigment molecules.

What is light
Light is the part of the radiant energy (sun ) that has wavelengths visible to the naked eye i.e
between 380 – 750 nm. It is a very narrow region of the electromagnetic spectrum.
Light has a wave nature and a particle nature.
Light comes in photons or discrete packets of energy.
Each wavelength is associated with a discrete packet of energy ( or photon ).
To summarized we can say
I. Light travels in waves, but it’s energy is organized in packets called photons.
II. Photosynthesis use photons with wavelengths between 380 – 750 nm.

The different wavelengths of visible light are seen as different colors.

See figure below

Pigment Molecules
The pigment molecules capture light energy. Each kind of pigment can absorb only a specific
wavelength of light.
All other wavelengths that are not absorbed are either transmitted or reflected. For example
chlorophyll absorbs in the blue violet and red regions of the spectrum. ( Light in the green
regions is reflected by chlorophyll. This explains why leaves appear green).
A variety of pigment molecules are involved in photosynthesis.
The pigment molecules can be divided into two major categories namely;
I. Primary pigments; which includes two forms of chlorophyll a.
II. Accessory pigment; which includes chlorophyll b, the other forms of chlorophyll a and
carotenoids.

There are two main types of carotenoids namely;

 Carotene
 Xanthophylls

We have already said that each kind of pigment can absorbed only specific wavelengths of light.
In other words; Different pigment absorb different wavelengths of light differently.
A spectrophotometric measures the relative abilities of different pigments to absorb different
wavelengths of light.
Each pigment has it’s own absorption characteristics known as an absorption spectrum; which
is essentially a plot of it’s absorption of light of different wavelengths.
Different wavelengths affect photosynthetic rates differently. In other words some wavelengths
results in higher photosynthetic rates than others. This is express in an action spectrum; which
is a graph of the relative effectiveness of different wavelengths of light.
The action spectrum of photosynthesis is obtain by measuring the rate of photosynthesis at
each wavelength, by exposing leaf cells to light of one wavelength.

Consider the absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and b below. Note that chlorophyll a and b
absorb light mainly in the blue ( 422 to 492nm ) and in the red ( 647 to 760 ) region. These
pigments absorb minimally in the green region. ( That’s why leaves appear green in color ).

Also consider the action spectrum of photosynthesis below.

Review questions
Answer these questions before moving up to the next module.
1) Make a simple labelled drawing of chloroplast to include the following; outer
membrane, inner membrane, inter membrane space, thylakoid membrane. Granum,
thylakoid lumen.
2) Draw a labelled cross section of a leaf.
3) How is the leaf adapted to perform it’s function.
4) Describe the absorption spectrum of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b.
5) What is the relationship between the absorption spectra of chlorophyll a and b and the
actions spectrum of photosynthesis.