PHOTOSYNTHESIS

AND ATP SYNTHESIS

Created by: Miss Nelson
What is photosynthesis?
Photosynthesis is a metabolic pathway by
which the inorganic compounds water and
carbon dioxide are converted into
carbohydrates, using light energy absorbed
by chlorophyll.
•Photosynthesis is the trapping (fixation)
of carbon dioxide and its subsequent
reduction to carbohydrate,using
hydrogen from water.
• NB: Carbon dioxide is chemically reduced during
the reaction, by the addition of hydrogen.
• NB: The incorporation of the inorganic CO2 into
the glucose molecule is known as fixation.
Equation for photosynthesis
What is the relationship between this equation
and the summary equation for respiration?

• Photosynthesis is the reverse of respiration. The

products of respiration ( carbon dioxide and water) are
the reactants in photosynthesis, and the products of
photosynthesis (glucose and oxygen) are the reactants
of respiration.
 An overview of photosynthesis
• Photosynthesis happens in several different kinds of
organisms, NOT ONLY IN PLANTS.
• Other organisms are photosynthetic bacteria(eg.
Cyanobacteria) , phytoplankton, protoctists (including
the green, red and brown algae).
• However, in this unit we will concentrate on
photosynthesis in green plants, which takes place inside
the chloroplast.
•Green plants make their own food by
photosynthesis.

•This chemical reaction is ‘driven’ by light

energy from the sun, and converts the simple
inorganic compounds into more complex
organic compounds. It also releases oxygen,
a requirement of aerobic respiration.
• The first product of this process is carbohydrate which
can be converted into other carbohydrates, lipids and
proteins needed for respiration and growth.

• The light energy is converted into chemical energy

(example of a transduction process, where one sort of
energy is converted into another form) by the green
pigment chlorophyll.

• Photosynthesis takes place in the green parts of plant, in

particular leaves.
•Two sets of reactions are involved. These
are the light dependent (light stage)
reactions, for which light energy is
necessary, and the light independent
(dark stage) reactions , for which light
energy is not needed.
Label this leaf.
Diagram of a leaf
Leaf structure and function
Leaf has a broad, thin lamina, midrib and a
network of veins.
A typical leaf has:
• A large surface area with chlorophyll located close
to the top surface next to the incident light, for
maximum light absorption.
•A thin structure, since light would be
absorbed in the first millimetre or so of
tissue. Its thinness minimises the length of
diffusion pathway for gaseous exchange.

•Adaptations allowing gas exchange through

the surface (pores) and a network of spaces
for gases to reach the photosynthetic tissue.
•Vessels to transport water to the cells,
and others to transport products of
photosynthesis away to non-
photosynthetic tissues.
 Table showing the structure and function
of part of a leaf.
structure Function
Waxy cuticle- thin transparent Provides a watertight layer
layer preventing water loss other than
through the stomata.

Upper epidermis- thin, flat and Allows light through to the cells
transparent of the mesophyll below.
Structure Functions

Lower epidermis- similar to upper Regulate gas exchange and help to

epidermis but most mesophytes prevent water loss
contain many stomata

Stomata- pores Pores in the epidermis that allow

exchange of carbon dioxide and
oxygen. Also, the loss of water
vapour through transpiration.

Guard cell-sausage shape with Cells that can change in shape,

unevenly thickened cell walls allowing stoma to be opened or
closed. They help to regulate the
rate of transpiration .
Structure Functions
Palisade mesophyll – Consists of chloroplasts
long cylinders arranged with chlorophyll that
at right angles to the absorb light energy, so
upper epidermis. that photosynthesis
Contain vacuoles and can take place. Aids in
chloroplasts. exchange of gases.
Structure
Spongy mesophyll- contain
smaller number of chloroplasts.
Irregularly packed and contain
large air spaces
Functions
Consists of intercellular air
spaces, that allows gases to
diffuse to and from the cells.
Mainly adapted as a surface for
the exchange of carbon dioxide
and oxygen.
Conduct photosynthesis at
high light intensities.
 Chloroplasts
• Chloroplasts are a type of cell organelle known as
a plastid. These are membrane-bound bodies,
generally containing pigments or food storage
materials, or both.
• In eukaryotic organisms, photosynthetic organelle
is the chloroplast. Each cell in a photosynthesising
tissue may have 10 or even 100 chloroplasts inside
it.
• Most chloroplasts of plant cells are biconvex, disc
shaped structures that range from 2 to
10micrometer in diameter.
• Both the light dependent stage and the light
independent stage take place inside the
chloroplasts within cells of leaves and often stems
of plants.
•The chloroplast is surrounded by a double
membrane forming an envelope, which is not
directly involved in the reactions of
photosynthesis, and contains a complex
system of internal membranes called
lamellae and the fluid-filled sacs are
thylakoids.
•In some parts of the chloroplasts,
the thylakoids are stacked up like
a pile of pancakes, and these
stacks are called the grana.
•The thylakoid membranes are composed of
lipid and protein, and some of the membrane
proteins are associated with chlorophyll
molecules, forming complexes known as
photosystems.
•It is in these photosystems that light energy
is converted to chemical energy during the
light dependent stage of photosynthesis.
•The stacked membranes of the thylakoid
have a large surface area and so their
pigment can capture light very efficiently.

•The membranes also create the thylakoid

spaces. The space inside each thylakoid, the
lumen, is needed for the accumulation of
hydrogen ions, used in the production of ATP.
•The background material inside the
chloroplast is called the stroma.
•The light independent stage, where
carbon dioxide is reduced to
carbohydrate, takes place in the stroma.
•Embebbed tightly in the membranes inside
the chloroplast are several different kinds of
photosynthetic pigments. These are coloured
substances that absorb energy from certain
wavelengths (colours) of light. The most
abundant pigment is chlorophyll, which
comes in two forms chlorophyll a and b.
•Chloroplasts often contain starch
grains, because starch is the form in
which plants store carbohydrate that
they make by photosynthesis.

•They also contain ribosomes(70S)

and their own circular strand of DNA.
Photosynthetic pigments

•A pigment is a substance whose

molecules absorb some wavelengths
(colours) of light but not others.
• The wavelength it does not absorb
are either reflected or transmitted
through the substance.
• The most abundant pigment in a chloroplast is
chlorophyll, which comes in two forms chlorophyll a and
b. These are the PRIMARY PIGMENT.
• Both types of chlorophyll absorb similar wavelengths of
light but chlorophyll a absorbs slightly longer
wavelengths than chlorophyll b.
• Chlorophyll a is the most abundant pigment.
•Chlorophyll absorbs light mainly in the blue
and red parts of the absorption spectrum.
The chlorophyll in the leaf, absorbs light of
wavelengths other than green. This is why a
leaf looks green because it reflects mainly
green light and absorbs other colour of the
spectrum.
A adsorption spectrum of chlorophyll
pigments

red
blue
•Carotenoids are known as
accessory pigments. They absorb
light of different wavelengths
from chlorophyll , and then pass
the energy to the chlorophyll
molecules for photosynthesis.