Photosynthesis Revision

AQA, OCR A A-level

Chloroplast Ultrastructure
- LDR in the
thylakoid
membrane
- LIR in the
stroma
Chloroplast Adaptations
• Thylakoid membrane provides large surface area for photosynthesis
• Proteins hold grana for max light absorption
• ATP synthase and a selectively permeable membrane for ATP
synthesis.
• DNA and ribosomes for synthesis of required proteins
Light Dependent Reaction
• Occurs due to Chemiosmosis
• Chemiosmosis = proton gradient, protons move from the thylakoid
space into the stroma, synthesis of ATP
Light Dependent Reaction
• Photoionisation: energy is required to maintain this proton
gradient/Chemiosmosis
• Light hits chlorophyll, absorbs it. Light energy transferred to electrons,
raising their energy level to an excited state.
• Leaves the chlorophyll oxidised
• Electrons move through series of REDOX reactions in the ETC.
• Energy used for active transport of protons.
Light Dependent Reaction
• The electrons are accepted at the end of the ETC
• NADP + H+ + e- —> NADPH
• Electrons lost must be replaced
• Photolysis = splitting of water
• H2O —> O2 + e- + H+
• Protons increase conc further

• ATP and NADPH products

Photophosphorylation
• Conversion of ADP to ATP using energy of sunlight by activation of
chlorophyll
Light Independent Reaction
• No light required, BUT products from LDR are required
• The Calvin cycle
Light Independent Reaction
• RuBP and CO2 + Rubisco
• 2 GP
• 2 ATP, 2 NADPH, reduction, 2 TP
Rate of Photosynthesis
• Light intensity – increased rate of LDR, more ATP and NADPH
produced, increasing LIR
• Carbon dioxide concentration – increases the rate of LIR
• Temperature – increases activity of the rubisco enzyme, until it
denatures
Describe how the light-
dependent reaction results
in production of ATP. [6
marks]
• 1. Light energy/photons absorbed by photosystem(s);
• 2. Electrons raised/excited to higher (energy) level / chlorophyll(A)
becomes oxidised / loses electrons/photoionisation;
• 3. Water broken down at photosystem II / photolysis of water to
produce H ions and electrons (and oxygen);
• 4. Electrons from photolysis replace the electrons that leave;
• 5. Electrons move along electron transport chain, releasing
energy;
• 6. Energy, is used to actively transport H*protons across
(thylakoid) membrane;
• 7. Proton/H gradient created / high concentration of protons/
H* in thylakoid space AND low concentration in stroma;
• 8. Protons/H return to stroma through ATP
synthase/chemiosmosis;
• 9. ATP synthase adds Pi /inorganic phosphate to ADP to make ATP
• 10. (ATP produced in the process of) photophosphorylation;
• 11. NADPH produced from NADP and H* (at photosystem I).
The production of glucose from the light-
independent reaction will drop significantly
when a plant is left in the dark for several
hours.
Explain why. [5 marks]
• 1. Light-independent reaction/Calvin cycle requires
products of the light-dependent reaction;
• 2. (Energy from) ATP (produced in LDR);
• 3. Needed for regeneration of RuBP / ribulose
biphosphate from TP / triose phosphate;
• 4. (Hydrogen/H* from) reduced NADP (produced in LDR);
• 5. Needed for reduction/conversion of glycerate 3-
phosphate/GP to triose phosphate/TP;
• 6. There is a limited supply of coenzymes/NADP.
Explain the role of water
in the light-dependent
reaction. [3 marks]
• 1. Photolysis of water/ water is split into electrons,
protons and oxygen;
• 2. Provides electrons lost from (chlorophyll) during
photoionisation;
• 3. (and) protons to maintain high concentration in
thylakoid space;
• 4. H* /protons used to be picked up by NADP/ used
in the
reduction of NADP;
• 5. Oxygen diffuses out of the plant/is used in
respiration.
Describe and explain how the
structure of a chloroplast is
adapted for photosynthesis.
[6 marks]
• 1. Large surface area (in small volume) of membrane - grana/many
grana/thylakoid;
• 2. (Which allows) light-dependent reaction/attachment of
photosystems, electron carriers, ATP synthase;
• 3. Contain (named) pigments/photosystems;
• 4. (Which allows) maximum absorption of light;
• 5. Grana surrounded by stroma;
• 6. (Which allows) products of the light-dependent reaction to pass
readily into the stroma for the light-independent reaction;
• 7. Chloroplast contains its own DNA and ribosomes;
• 8. (Which allows) chloroplast to make (some of the proteins/enzymes)
it needs for photosynthesis;
• 9. Combination of accessory pigments and primary pigment;
• 10. So it can absorb lights of a range of wavelengths;
• 11. Thylakoids have small internal volume;
• 12. Which maximises the proton/H+ gradient.