PHOTOSYNTHESIS

• Greek words: photo = "light" and

synthesis = "putting together".
• The process by which green plants, algae,
some bacteria use the energy of the sun
to synthesize organic compounds (sugars)
from inorganic compounds (CO2 and
water) is known as photosynthesis.
• Involves transformation of light energy to
chemical energy
• Anabolic (small molecules combined)
• Endergonic (stores energy)
• Makes organic molecules (glucose) out of inorganic materials
(carbon dioxide and water).
• Primary source of food and energy (ATP) for all forms of life,
either directly or indirectly. Thus all life is supported by this
process.
• Photosynthesis releases O2 and hence helps to purify air, and

also maintains balance of O2 and CO2 in nature.

• The energy stored in all the fossil fuels (e.g. natural gas, coal,
petroleum(oil),etc.) is basically the solar energy which was
trapped and stored during photosynthesis in the geological past.
 STRUCTURE OF CHLOROPLAST
• Outer membrane:-It is permeable to small organic molecules
• Inner membrane:-It is less permeable & is studded with
transport protein.
• Thylakoid:- It is a sheet-like membrane bound struture which is
site of all the light dependent reaction in chloroplast .
• Granum:-Stack of thylakoids. Grana are interconnected to each
other through lamella.
• Stroma:-It is the fluid surrounding the thylakoid in the
chloroplast. It is the site where light independent reaction of
photosynthesis occurs.
 Chloroplast contain chlorophylls as the
key energy trapping molecule

Chlorophyll: A Light Absorbing Pigment

The Solar Panel Chemical!
Red and Blue
CALVIN CYCLE OF DARK REACTION
 LIGHT DEPENDENT REACTION
• In light-dependent reactions, which take place at the
thylakoid membrane, the light energy captured by pigment
molecules, called chlorophylls is used to generate high-energy
electrons with great reducing potential.
• These electrons are used to produce NADPH and ATP
(chemical energy) with the use of water. The production of ATP
in this way is called photophosphorylation.
• The light-dependent reactions release oxygen as a byproduct
as water is broken apart (photolysis).
 ATP SYNTHESIS IN CHLOROPLAST
• At various stages during light reaction, protons
are released into the thylakoid lumen making it
markedly acidic (pH 4) than stroma (pH 8)
thereby generating a proton gradient.
• This trans-membrane proton gradient is used
to drive ATP synthesis in stroma with the help
of ATP synthase (also called the CF1- CF0
complex).
• CF0 conducts protons down their concentration
gradient into the matrix across the thylakoid
membrane, whereas CF1 catalyzes the formation
of ATP from ADP and Pi.
FUTURE OF GLUCOSE SYNTHESISED BY THE GREEN
LEAVES
• Plants store excess glucose as starch (since starch is insoluble,
water cannot enter the cells by osmosis). In some plants, starch is
stored in cell organelles called amyloplasts. Some plant roots and
embryos, in the form of seeds and fruit, also serve as storage
units for starch.
• When required, starch is broken down, in the presence of certain
enzymes and water, into its constituent monomer glucose units.
• The glucose then gets translocated to other parts of the plant by
phloem for storage or to get energy.
 QUESTIONS
1) What is photosynthesis? State the importance of
photosynthesis.
2) Draw a neat well-labeled diagram of a chloroplast. State
the differences between light and dark reaction.
3) Discuss how light and dark reactions work together to
produce sugar during photosynthesis.
4) What are the major steps involved in Calvin Cycle?
5) Describe how ATP is synthesized in chloroplast.