Photosynthetic Processes: Chlorophyll and Pigments

General Biology 1
Photosynthetic Processes: Chlorophyll and Pigments

TCG 1 (TRANSCRIPT)
Objectives:
● Define The Parts Of Chloroplast
● Differentiate Autotrophs From Heterotrophs
● Define The Specific Parts Of The Chloroplast With Light And Dark Reaction
● Discuss The Specific Electromagnetic Spectrum Utilized In Plants
● Know The Roles Of Different Pigments
● Discuss The General Overview Of Photosynthesis
Introduction to Photosynthesis and Chloroplasts
1. Photosynthesis
- conversion of solar energy into chemical energy in chloroplasts.
- Nourishes almost the entire world directly or indirectly.
2. Chloroplast
- photosynthetic structure of plants / site of photosynthesis
- Contains Chlorophyll - Green pigment (for photosynthesis)
● Photoautotrophs - are organisms that carry out photosynthesis. Organic molecules are
driven by light energy derived from carbon dioxide and water.
- There are five well-known photoautotrophs such as Plants, Multicellular alga,
Unicellular Eukaryotes, Cyanobacteria, and Purple sulfur Bacteria.
Autotrophs VS Heterotrophs
Autotrophs Heterotrophs
are organisms that can make their own food are organisms that cannot prepare their own
food and depend on others for it.
Producer Consumer
Derive it from inorganic sources after Derive it directly or indirectly from other
converting light energy into chemical energy organisms
Primary Producer Secondary or tertiary level
Plants and algae Humans and Animals
Sites of Photosynthesis in Plants

1. Mesophyll - the leaf's interior tissue; where chloroplasts are found.
2. Stomata - microscopic pores where carbon dioxide (CO2) enters and the oxygen exits.
3. Stroma - a dense fluid covering the two membranes of chloroplast.
4. Thylakoid - segregates stroma from thylakoid space.
5. Thylakoid space - space inside the thylakoid.
6. Granum - where thylakoids are stacked in columns.
Dark and Light Reaction of the Chloroplast

● The light-dependent reaction occurs in the thylakoids within the chloroplast, while the
light-independent reaction occurs in the stroma of the chloroplast.
● The reason they’re called light independent is because they can proceed without the
assistance of light energy.
● Light reaction or “light-dependent reaction” is the first stage of photosynthesis which

traps light energy in order to produce ATP and NADPH
● Dark reaction or “light-independent reaction” is illustrated thru the calvin cycle which is
the second stage of the photosynthesis which produces glucose by using the energy
form ATP and NADPH produced from the light reaction.
● Glucose is the starting point for making the materials that plants need to live. These
materials are used to make cell walls and other cell components that will enable the
plant to grow, nourish, and increase in biomass.
● ATP is produced by a process called chemiosmosis using an enzyme called ATP
synthase.
● For light-dependent reactions, we all need to know that the products are: oxygen, ATP,
and NADPh. And the reactants are Water, ADP+P, and NADP+.
● For light-independent reaction, we all need to know that the products is: Sugar/Glucose,
NADp+, and ADP+P and the reactants are CO2, ATP, and NADPh
Electromagnetic Spectrum Utilized in Plants

● Wavelength is the distance between the crests of electromagnetic waves.
Electromagnetic spectrum is the entire range of radiation. It is also the range of
wavelengths and/or frequencies as said by the other scientists. Photons are the model of
light as waves explain many of light’s properties. Take note guys that the amount of
energy of a photon is inversely proportional to the wavelength of light.
Roles of Different Pigments

● Pigments - the organic compounds that give color to the living things.
● When light meets matter, it may be reflected, transmitted and absorbed. We call the
substances that absorb visible light, "Pigments''.
● The device used to measure the pigment’s ability to absorb various wavelengths is a
spectrophotometer.
● The first and most important plant pigment is the Chlorophyll. Chlorophyll as we all
know is a pigment and chemical compound found in plants. Chlorophyll is found inside
the thylakoid membrane that is in an organelle called the chloroplasts. It has the ability to
convert light energy to chemical energy through photosynthesis.
● Chlorophyll A is the main or the primary pigment which is needed in photosynthesis.
ROLES:
1. ABSORB - They absorb light from the orange-red and violet-blue areas of the
electromagnetic spectrum. This is necessary for the process of photosynthesis.
2. TRANSFER - the light energy to the reaction center
3. DONOR - The central role of chlorophyll is as the primary electron donor in the
transport chain. From that the energy from the sun will become chemical energy
that can be used by the organism for cellular purposes.
● Chlorophyll B is an accessory pigment. Accessory Pigments are light-absorbing

compounds.
ROLES:
1. ABSORB - red-blue part of the spectrum.
2. EXPAND - and widen the range of the energy from sun into chemical energy
REMEMBER:
❖ ALL ORGANISMS THAT PERFORM PHOTOSYNTHESIS HAVE CHLOROPHYLL A,
BUT NOT ALL CONTAIN CHLOROPHYLL B
● Carotenoid is another set of pigments that assist with the function of photosynthesis.
They are also known accessory pigments because they assist chlorophyll in the
collection and absorption of light energy.
ROLES:
1. ABSORB- they absorb violet and blue-green light and reflect the color yellow,
orange or sometimes red.Similar to carrot which is related to its function that
Carotenoids give plants the color orange, red and yellow.
2. PROTECT- Some Carotenoids seem to be photoprotection: These compounds
absorb and dissipate excessive light energy that would otherwise damage
chlorophyll or interact with oxygen, forming reactive oxidative molecules that are
dangerous to the cell.
● In the absorption spectrum, the curves represent how the colors are best absorbed by
the three chloroplast pigments.
● In the action spectrum, it shows the difference between the wavelength and the rate of
photosynthesis. It also shows the relative effectiveness of different wavelengths in
driving the process of photosynthesis.
Photosystems
● There are two photosystems namely the Photosystem I (PSI) and the Photosystem II
(PSII). Photosystem II comes first in the path of electron flow, but it is named as second
because it was discovered after photosystem I.
● The pair of chlorophyll molecules in photosystem II are called P680, because they
absorb light at a wavelength of about 680 nanometer. Whereas in photosystem I, it’s still
chlorophyll a molecule but are called P700 because they absorb light at a wavelength of
700 nm.
● For summary, photosystems have two main compartments or complexes which is the
light-harvesting complex and the reaction-center complex. In the light harvesting
complex, we will find the pigment molecules that capture all photons/electrons and pass
it on to the reaction center complex which excites these electrons and give them to the
primary electron acceptor where they can move on the next photosystem.
General Overview of Photosynthesis

● In the 1930s, Van Niel discovered that O2 was released in H2O and not in CO2.
● Redox Reaction has two types; oxidation and reduction. In oxidation, there is a
release of electrons from one substance. In reduction, there is an addition of electrons to
another substance.
● During photosynthesis there is a redox reaction during the process, where the water is
split and the electrons in the water are transferred with the hydrogen ions to the carbon
dioxide, resulting in the glucose to be reduced.
● Two Stages of Photosynthesis: Light Reaction and Calvin Cycle
➔ In Light Reaction, it happens at the thylakoids where it absorbs solar energy or sunlight
and makes it into chemical energy to be used for the Calvin Cycle.
➔ The two products of light reactions are NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
phosphate hydrogen) and ATP (adenosine triphosphate).
➔ The Calvin Cycle occurs in the stroma and during this cycle, the process called carbon
fixation happens. It is when carbon dioxide is incorporated from the air to the organic
molecules present in the chloroplast. Calvin cycle requires chemical energy which is the
product of light reactions which are ATP and NADPH.

Photosynthetic Processes: Chlorophyll and Pigments

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Photosynthetic Processes: Chlorophyll and Pigments

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General Biology 1

Photosynthetic Processes: Chlorophyll and Pigments

Introduction to Photosynthesis and Chloroplasts

Primary Producer Secondary or tertiary level

Plants and algae Humans and Animals

Sites of Photosynthesis in Plants

Dark and Light Reaction of the Chloroplast

● Light reaction or “light-dependent reaction” is the first stage of photosynthesis which

Electromagnetic Spectrum Utilized in Plants

Roles of Different Pigments

● Chlorophyll B is an accessory pigment. Accessory Pigments are light-absorbing

General Overview of Photosynthesis

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