Photosynthesis

of light in Red, Blue,

o Photosynthetic pigments
o The chloroplast
o Photosystems
o Light-dependent
Reactions/Light reactions
o Calvin Cycle
o Photorespiration
o C-4 photosynthesis
o CAM plants
• Photosynthesis is the process by which
light is converted to chemical bond
energy
• 2 main processes
o Light dependent / light reactions
§ Uses light energy to
directly produce ATP that
powers the light-
independent reactions
Occurs in the GRANA
o Light-independent reactions
§ Occurs in the STROMA
§ Consists of the Calvin
Cycle = produced sugar
§ Calvin cycle uses ATP
formed during the Light
reactions
o Both occur only when light is
present
Violet range.
o 2 – Carotenoids
§ Yellow, orange, read
§ Absorbs light in blue,
green, and violet range
§ Xanthophyll
THE CHLOROPLAST
• Contains grana = where light reactions
occur
o Grana are layers of thylakoid
membranes
o Thylakoid membranes are
PHOTOSYTEMS I & II occur
PHOTOSYSTEMS
• Light-harvesting complexes in the
thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.
• Reaction center = chlorophyll a
• 2 systems photosystems:
o PS II – 1st
§ Absorbs light at P700
o PS I – 2nd
§ Absorbs light at P680

Photosynthetic Pigments
• Absorbs light energy and uses it to
provide energy to carry out
photosynthesis
• 2 major groups of pigments:
o 1 – Chlorophyll A & Chlorophyll
B
§ They are green and
absorbs all wavelengths