Biochemistry Unit Photosynthesis Online Assignment Total Mark: 60 Knowledge & Understanding /26 /24 /10 Communication Thinking

& Inquiry

This online assignment is on Photosynthesis. Answer the questions for each section using any online resource as well as the ones provided for each section. State which online sites you used to complete your answers.

Overall Expectations:
C3. demonstrate an understanding of the chemical changes and energy conversions that occur in metabolic process

Specific Expectations:
C3.2 explain the chemical changes and energy conversions associated with the process of photosynthesis (e.g., carbon dioxide and water react with sunlight to produce oxygen and glucose) C3.4 describe, compare, and illustrate (e.g., using flow charts) the matter and energy transformations that occur during the processes of cellular respiration (aerobic and anaerobic) and photosynthesis, including the roles of oxygen and organelles such as mitochondria and chloroplasts

Knowledge and Understanding (26 Marks) Site 1: Photosynthetic Electron Transport and ATP Synthesis
1) What is photophosphorylation? (2 marks) Photosynthesis produces energy (ATP) and reducing power (NADPH). The process of making ATP is called photophosphorylation. There are two types of photophosphorylation: - cyclic in bacterial photosynthesis, when a single photosystem II is involved, and an excited electron returns to the reaction center of Photosystem II;

- noncyclic in plants and cyanobacteria, when two photosystems (II and I) are involved, and an excited electron ejected from the reaction center does not return to that center. 2) What is the role of each of the following in photosynthesis? (4 marks, 1 mark each) NADP Reductase: NADP reductase transfers the electrons to NADP to form NADPH Plastocyanin is a small protein that carries the electrons from the b6-f complex to photosystem I. Plastoquinone is the primary acceptor for the light-energized electrons leaving photosystem II. The reduced plastoquinone passes the excited electrons to b6-f complex. Proton Gradient difference in concentration of protons in stroma and in the thylakoid space. A proton gradient is created by b6-f complex (a proton pump that is embedded in the thylakoid membrane). The proton concentration is more in the thylakoid space, however, the thylakoid memebrane is impermeable to protons. The channels provided by ATP synthase helps the protons to pass in to the stroma where ADP is phosphorylated to ATP using protons. Ferredoxin is the primary acceptor for the light-energized electrons leaving photosystem I.

Site 2: Photosynthesis Movie

http://www.fw.vt.edu/dendro/forestbiology/photosynthesis.swf 3) Sketch a chloroplast (5 marks) Label the: Outer Membrane, Inner Membrane, Stroma, Thylakoid, Granum

4) For each site of interest in the animation movies. Briefly describe what is happening (5 marks each) 1. PSII Photosystem II. A photon of light strikes PS II, the clustered phlorophill, P680 molecule loses electrons, becomes oxidized. Then P680 molecule captures new electrons, becomes reduced by splitting water, which is producing H+ ions and oxygen. 2. Plastoquinone is the primary acceptor for the light-energized electrons leaving photosystem II. The reduced plastoquinone passes the excited electrons to the b6-f complex. Arrival of the energetic electrons causes the b6-f complex to pump protons from the stroma into the lumen. 3. Site #3 Photosystem I. A small protein called plastocyanin carries the electrons from b6-f

complex to photosystem I (PS I). When PS I absorbs a photon of light, the molecule P700 (reaction center) loses an electron and becomes oxidized. The excited electron passes to ferredoxin. 4. Ferredoxin, where the enzyme NADP reductase transfers the electrons to NADP to form NADPH (the reducing power). 5. ATP synthase provides the channel for protons from thylakoid space into the stroma where ADP is phosphorylated to ATP 5. Sketch the membrane shown in the movie. Label with the points of interest (10 marks)

Communication (21 Marks) Site 3: Photosynthesis Movie

6. Label (6 marks)

Questions 7-9: (3 marks) 7. Electrons move from water to the reaction center of Photosystem II, P680 molecule 8. As electrons pass through PQ, cyt b6, and PC, what is created? A proton motive force. 9. What product is created during photosystem II? _ATP

Site 4: Photosynthesis Movie

http://www.johnkyrk.com/photosynthesis.html Complete the fill in the blanks (9 marks) 10. Solar photons take eight minutes to get to earth. 11. When struck by a photon, chlorophyll becomes exited 12. Without a way to trap the energy, what happens to it? It is released in light or heat. 13. The electrons power the synthesis of ATP 14. Re-energized electrons create what substance? NADPH + H + 15. Each photosynthetic event yields 2 ATP and 1 NADPH (numbers) 16. What is a byproduct of these reactions? Oxygen 17. What happens to the energy trapped in the light reactions? The trapped energy powers the biosynthetic phase that followes.

Site 5: Photosynthesis Animation

Questions 18 and 19 (3 marks) 18. How many protons does it take to reduce PQ? ____________________ 19. What donates electrons to the P680 complex? Water What donates electrons to the P700 complex? Electrons from Photosystem II comes via the electron carriers

Thinking and Inquiry (10 Marks) Site 6: Photosynthesis Animation

http://www.stolaf.edu/people/giannini/flashanimat/metabolism/photosynthesis.swf 20. For each of the following, write a long name and a brief description of its role in the process (3 marks, 1 mark each) PQ, Plastoquinone is the primary acceptor for the light-energized electrons leaving photosystem II. The reduced plastoquinone passes the excited electrons to the b6-f complex. Pc, Plastocyanin is a small protein that carries the electrons from b6-f complex to photosystem I Fd, Ferredoxin is the electron acceptor for the light-energized electrons leaving photosystem I

Site 7: Photosynthesis Animation

http://www.cix.co.uk/~argus/Dreambio/photosynthesis/photosynthsis%20animation.htm *This one goes pretty fast! 21. Identify each by color (4 marks) Light Purple blob ____________________ Green blobs _______________________ Red blob __________________________. Blue blob _________________________

Site 8: Calvin Cycle

http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/Bio231/calvin.html 22. What are the three stages of the Calvin Cycle as illustrated in the animation? (3 marks) 23. How is RuBP regenerated? (2 marks)

24. What is the purpose of RUBISCO? (1 mark)

Literature cited (3 marks, added to communication section) (websites and online resources used for the assignment)