LIGHT REACTION OF

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

CYCLIC PHOSPHORYLATION AND

CHEMIOSMOSIS
Cyclic Phosphorylation
(Cyclic electron flow)
 The returning back of the same excited
electrons to the excited chlorophyll by
producing a molecule of ATP is called
cyclic phosphorylation.
 It is a less common type of electron flow.
 In this case, only photosystem I is involved.
 The photo-excited electrons take an
alternative path. It does not use
photosystem II.
 This cycle may take place when there is less
amount of ATP for Calvin Cycle. It slows down
the cycle. Therefore, the NADPH accumulates in
the chloroplast.
 This rise in NADPH may stimulate the temporary
shifting from non-cyclic to cyclic electron flow.
 The cyclic electron flow continues until the
demand of ATP fulfilled.
 Therefore, the cyclic flow is a short circuit.
Steps of Cyclic Phosphorylation
Following steps take place during cyclic phosphorylation:
1. P700 of the photosystem I absorbs light. This light energy drive
electrons form P700 of the photosystem I to primary electron
acceptor. It produces electron hole in the chlorophyll.
2. The primary electron acceptor of photosystem I transfers the
photo-excited electrons to Fe-S protein.
3. Fe-S protein transfer the electron to ferredoxin (Fd).
4. The electrons are transferred from ferredoxin (Fd) to
Cytochromes complex (ETC).
5. Finally, the Cytochromes complex returns these electrons to
excited chlorophylls of the P700. A molecule of ATP is produced
during this transfer of electrons through ETC by chemiosmosis.
The NADPH is not produced.
Fig.: Non-Cyclic vs. Cyclic
Phosphorylation
Fig.: Cyclic Phosphorylation
CHEMIOSMOSIS
 The coupling reaction in which
synthesis of ATP molecule takes
during movement of H+ across an H+
 gradient is called chemiosmosis.
 Peter Mitchell proposed chemiosmosis
hypothesis in 1961.
 The mechanism for the ATP synthesis is
chemiosmosis in cyclic and non- cyclic
phosphorylation.
 DARK REACTION
OF
PHOTOSYNTHESIS
DARK REACTION OR CALVIN-BENSON
CYCLE OR C3 CYCLE

 The series of reactions in which carbon is

fixed in the synthesis of sugar is called
Calvin-Benson cycle. 
 It takes place in the stroma of chloroplast.
Mechanism of Calvin Cycle
The Calvin cycle is composed of four steps:
STEP 1: CARBON FIXATION
 Ribulose I,5-bisphoshate (RuBP) is already present in
the stroma of the chloroplast.
 CO2 reacts with RuBP to form a six carbon compound.
 This six carbon compound is unstable. It at once
breaks into two molecules of 3-phosphoglycerate
(PGA).
 The reaction is catalyzed by enzyme Ribulose
bisphosphate carboxylase. This enzyme is commonly
called rubisco.
STEP 2: REDUCTION
 The ATP and NADPH2 are used during this phase
of reaction.
 The COOH group of 3-PGA is phosphorylated by
ATP. It gives I,3- bisphosphoglycerate.
 The I,3-bisphosphoglycerate reacts with NADPH2.
It is reduced into 3-phosphoglyceraldehyde
(PGAL).
 This reaction is controlled by enzyme triose
phosphate dehydrogenase. This reaction can he
written as:
 PGA + ATP + NADPH2 PGAL + NADP + ADP + Pi
STEP 3: REGENERATION OF RuBP

 RuBP is the starting point of Calvin cycle. It must be

regenerate for its reuse in the coming reaction.
 It is regenerated in following reactions:
I. PGAL is converted into dihydroxyacetone phosphate.
II. Two molecules of dihydroxyacetone phosphate
condense (aldol condensation) to give fructose I,6-
bisphosphate. It is hydrolyzed into fructose 6-
phosphate.
III. Fructose 6-phosphate (6C) combines with a molecule
of PGAL (3C). They combine to give two molecules
of erythrose 4-phosphate (4C) and xylulose 5-
phosphate (5C).
IV. Erythrose 4-phosphate (4C) combine with
dihydroxyacetone phosphate (3C) to
form sedoheptulose 7-phosphate (7C).
V. Sedoheptulose 7-phosphate (7C) combine with
PGAL (3C) to give two molecules of xylulose 5-
phosphate (5C).
VI. Two molecules of xylulose 5-phosphate arrange
with each other to form two molecules
of Ribulose 5-phosphate.
VII. Ribulose 5-phosphate is phosphorylated by ATP.
It gives Ribulose-1,5-bisphospate (RuBP).
STEP 4: Synthesis of Final
Products
 Three molecules of CO2 and three molecules of
RuBP are used during Calvin cycle.
 It produces 6 molecules of PGAL.
 Only one molecules of PGAL come out of cycle.
 It is used for synthesizing glucose, starch etc.
 The remaining five molecules of PGAL are used
in the regeneration of RuBP.
 PGAL of many cycles combine to form following
compounds:
i. Carbohydrates: Triose sugar combines to form
glucose and fructose. Glucose and fructose combine
to form sucrose. Many molecules of glucose combine
to form starch and cellulose.
ii. Lipids: Some triose phosphates are converted into
acetyl CoA. It is then converted into fatty acids.
iii. Proteins: Some triose phosphate is converted into α-
ketoglutarate in Krebs cycle. The α-ketoglutarate
combines  with ammonium ion to give different amino
acids.