4.2 Photosynthesis: Sugar as Food

Lesson Objectives

  • Outline the stages of photosynthesis.
  • Describe the chloroplast and its role in photosynthesis.
  • List the steps of the light reactions.
  • Describe the Calvin cycle.
  • Define chemosynthesis.

WORKBOOK ASSIGNMENT

Chapter 4.2 workbook pages

Get the workbook here: https://guesthollow.com/store/free-high-school-biology-workbook/

Vocabulary

  • Calvin cycle
    • second stage of photosynthesis in which carbon atoms from carbon dioxide are combined, using the energy in ATP and NADPH, to make glucose
  • chemosynthesis
    • process of using the energy in chemical compounds to make food
  • chlorophyll
    • green pigment in a chloroplast that absorbs sunlight in the light reactions of photosynthesis
  • electron transport chain
    • series of electron-transport molecules that pass high-energy electrons from molecule to molecule and capture their energy
  • grana
    • within the chloroplast, consists of sac-like membranes, known as thylakoid membranes
  • light reactions
    • first stage of photosynthesis in which light energy from the sun is captured and changed into chemical energy that is stored in ATP and NADPH
  • photosystem
    • group of molecules, including chlorophyll, in the thylakoid membrane of a chloroplast that captures light energy
  • stroma
    • space outside the thylakoid membranes of a chloroplast where the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis takes place
  • thylakoid membrane
    • membrane in a chloroplast where the light reactions of photosynthesis occur

A Note to You:

First, let me give you a warning. A lot of this and other sections of this chapter may come across as a bunch of blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Just stick with it and do the best you can.

If you don’t remember all of it, don’t feel bad. Go ask any adult on the street to explain the Krebs Cycle or the stage one light reactions in photosynthesis to you. I’d say it’s a safe bet that most of them will look at you kind of funny and not have much, if anything to say. That doesn’t mean this chapter is worthless. I’m just trying to let you know that this stuff can be hard and not everyone is going to get it. That’s O.K. We can’t all be biologists!

God has a special purpose and plan for you and you may never, ever come across a need in your future life to know this stuff. Just do your BEST to learn it now.

1 Corinthians 10:31 – Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:23 – And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

Yes, that even means studying this chapter! 🙂 God asks for you to give Him glory by doing your best. He loves you and is glad when you work really hard. I just don’t want you to be discouraged if, after working hard, you just don’t get it. He knows what you can and cannot “get”! You’re old enough now to know the difference between that or just pure laziness. 😉

Ok, here we go! Give it your best shot!

Introduction

Plants and other autotrophs make food out of “thin air”—at least, they use carbon dioxide from the air to make food. Most food is made in the process of photosynthesis. This process provides more than 99% of the energy used by living things on Earth. Photosynthesis also supplies Earth’s atmosphere with oxygen.

Watch this video to get an understanding of photosynthesis by the Amoeba Sisters:

Want to try a printable to help you remember what you saw in the video?

Amoeba Sister’s Video Recap: Photosynthesis

Here’s another video that helps explain photosynthesis. There are mentions of evolution in the video including a joking comment about “unintelligent design” in the section about RuBisCo (time stamp 11:07).

Aren’t you glad you get to use a Guest Hollow online textbook this year!!?? Waaaaaaay more fun than having to just read all of this in a thick ol’ book. Tell your homeschooling friends! Spread the Guest Hollow love!

Stages of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis occurs in two stages, which are shown in Figure below.

  1. Stage I is called the light reactions. This stage uses water and changes light energy from the sun into chemical energy stored in ATP and NADPH (another energy-carrying molecule). This stage also releases oxygen as a waste product.
  2. Stage II is called the Calvin cycle. This stage combines carbon from carbon dioxide in the air and uses the chemical energy in ATP and NADPH to make glucose.
4.2a
The two stages of photosynthesis are the light reactions and the Calvin cycle. Do you see how the two stages are related?

Before you read about these two stages of photosynthesis in greater detail, you need to know more about the chloroplast, where the two stages take place.

The Chloroplast: Theater for Photosynthesis

The “theater” where both stages of photosynthesis take place is the chloroplast. Chloroplasts are organelles that are found in the cells of plants and algae. (Photosynthetic bacteria do not have chloroplasts, but they contain structures similar to chloroplasts and produce food in the same way.) Look at the Figure below. The figure is a high power microscopic photo of the upper part of a Winter Jasmine leaf. If you could look at a single leaf of this plant under a microscope, you would see small green ovals, like those shown. These small green ovals are chloroplasts.

4.2b
High power microscopic photo of the upper part of a Winter Jasmine leaf. Viewed under a microscope many green chloroplasts are visible.

Figure below shows the components of a chloroplast. Each chloroplast contains neat stacks called grana (singular, granum). The grana consist of sac-like membranes, known as thylakoid membranes. These membranes contain photosystems, which are groups of molecules that include chlorophyll, a green pigment. The light reactions of photosynthesis occur in the thylakoid membranes. The stroma is the space outside the thylakoid membranes. This is where the reactions of the Calvin cycle take place.

4.2c
A chloroplast consists of thylakoid membranes surrounded by stroma. The thylakoid membranes contain molecules of the green pigment chlorophyll.

Photosynthesis Stage I: The Light Reactions

The first stage of photosynthesis is called the light reactions. During this stage, light is absorbed and transformed to chemical energy in the bonds of NADPH and ATP. You can follow the process in the figure as you read about it below.

Steps of the Light Reactions

The light reactions occur in several steps, all of which take place in the thylakoid membrane, as shown in Figure above.

  • Step 1: Units of sunlight, called photons, strike a molecule of chlorophyll in photosystem II of the thylakoid membrane. The light energy is absorbed by two electrons (2 e) in the chlorophyll molecule, giving them enough energy to leave the molecule.
  • Step 2: At the same time, enzymes in the thylakoid membrane use light energy to split apart a water molecule. This produces:
  1. two electrons (2 e). These electrons replace the two electrons that were lost from the chlorophyll molecule in Step 1.
  2. an atom of oxygen (O). This atom combines with another oxygen atom to produce a molecule of oxygen gas (O2), which is released as a waste product.
  3. two hydrogen ions (2 H+). The hydrogen ions, which are positively charged, are released inside the membrane in the thylakoid interior space.
  • Step 3: The two excited electrons from Step 1 contain a great deal of energy, so, like hot potatoes, they need something to carry them. They are carried by a series of electron-transport molecules, which make up an electron transport chain. The two electrons are passed from molecule to molecule down the chain. As this happens, their energy is captured and used to pump more hydrogen ions into the thylakoid interior space.
  • Step 4: When the two electrons reach photosystem I, they are no longer excited. Their energy has been captured and used, and they need more energy. They get energy from light, which is absorbed by chlorophyll in photosystem I. Then, the two re-energized electrons pass down another electron transport chain.
  • Step 5: Enzymes in the thylakoid membrane transfer the newly re-energized electrons to a compound called NADP+. Along with a hydrogen ion, this produces the energy-carrying molecule NADPH. This molecule is needed to make glucose in the Calvin cycle.
  • Step 6: By now, there is a greater concentration of hydrogen ions—and positive charge—in the thylakoid interior space. This difference in concentration and charge creates what is called a chemiosmotic gradient. It causes hydrogen ions to flow back across the thylakoid membrane to the stroma, where their concentration is lower. Like water flowing through a hole in a dam, the hydrogen ions have energy as they flow down the chemiosmotic gradient. The enzyme ATP synthase acts as a channel protein and helps the ions cross the membrane. ATP synthase also uses their energy to add a phosphate group (Pi) to a molecule of ADP, producing a molecule of ATP. The energy in ATP is needed for the Calvin cycle.
4.2d
This figure shows the light reactions of photosynthesis. This stage of photosynthesis begins with photosystem II (so named because it was discovered after photosystem I). Find the two electrons (2 e-) in photosystem II, and then follow them through the electron transport chain to the formation of NADPH in Step 5. In Step 6, where do the hydrogen ions (H+) come from that help make ATP?

Summary of Stage I

By the time Step 6 is finished, energy from sunlight has been stored in chemical bonds of NADPH and ATP. Thus, light energy has been changed to chemical energy, and the first stage of photosynthesis is now complete.

For a more detailed discussion see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR2GA7chA_c (20:16) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfR36PMWegg(18:51).  These videos are OPTIONAL. They are here though, for those of you who can’t get enough of photosynthesis!! 

Photosynthesis Stage II: The Calvin Cycle

TED Ed: Nature’s Smallest Factory: The Calvin Cycle – This video is NOT optional. 😉

The second stage of photosynthesis takes place in the stroma surrounding the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast. The reactions of this stage can occur without light, so they are sometimes called light-independent or dark reactions. This stage of photosynthesis is also known as the Calvin cycle because its reactions were discovered by a scientist named Melvin Calvin. He won a Nobel Prize in 1961 for this important discovery. In the Calvin cycle, chemical energy in NADPH and ATP from the light reactions is used to make glucose. You can follow the Calvin cycle in Figure below as you read about it in this section. You can also watch an animation of the Calvin cycle at this link: http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/Bio231/calvin.html.

4.2e

The Calvin cycle begins with a molecule named RuBP (a five-carbon sugar, Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate) and uses the energy in ATP and NADPH from the light reactions. Follow the cycle to see what happens to all three of these molecules. In this diagram, each black dot represents a carbon atom. Keep track of what happens to the carbon atoms as the cycle proceeds.

Steps of the Calvin Cycle

The Calvin cycle has three major steps: carbon fixation, reduction, and regeneration. All three steps take place in the stroma of a chloroplast.

  • Step 1: Carbon Fixation. Carbon dioxide from the atmosphere combines with a simple, five-carbon compound called RuBP. This reaction occurs with the help of an enzyme named RuBisCo and produces molecules known as 3PG (a three-carbon compound, 3-Phosphoglyceric acid).
  • Step 2: Reduction. Molecules of 3PG (from Step 1) gain energy from ATP and NADPH (from the light reactions) and re-arrange themselves to form G3P (glycerate 3-phosphate). This molecule also has three carbon atoms, but it has more energy than 3PG. One of the G3P molecules goes on to form glucose, while the rest of the G3P molecules go on to Step 3.
  • Step 3: Regeneration. The remaining G3P molecules use energy from ATP to form RuBP, the five-carbon molecule that started the Calvin cycle. This allows the cycle to repeat.

Just one second. Let me rest a minute. This stuff is giving me a headache! icon_eek OK – let’s get back to it! We’re almost done!

Summary of Stage II

The Calvin cycle takes over where the light reactions end. It uses chemical energy stored in ATP and NADPH (from the light reactions) and carbon dioxide from the air to produce glucose, the molecule that virtually all organisms use for food.

The Calvin Cycle is discussed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slm6D2VEXYs(13:28).  This video is OPTIONAL.

Hands-On Activity:

Print out and play a game about photosynthesis to help you better understand some of the more complicated steps:

4.2f

This game will help you to better understand photosynthesis! It’s a lot more fun than the Khan Academy videos (in my opinion, lol).

The printable pages for the game are on pages 15-32 of the PDF with black and white as well as color print options.

http://www.ellenjmchenry.com/homeschool-freedownloads/lifesciences-games/documents/PrintablePagesForBotany_ActivitySection.pdf

Chemosynthesis

Most autotrophs make food by photosynthesis, but this isn’t the only way that autotrophs produce food. Some bacteria make food by another process, which uses chemical energy instead of light energy. This process is called chemosynthesis. Some chemosynthetic bacteria live around deep-ocean vents known as “black smokers.” Compounds such as hydrogen sulfide, which flow out of the vents from Earth’s interior, are used by the bacteria for energy to make food. Consumers that depend on these bacteria to produce food for them include giant tube worms, like these pictured in Figure below. Why do bacteria that live deep below the ocean’s surface rely on chemical compounds instead of sunlight for energy to make food?

4.2g
Tube worms deep in the Gulf of Mexico get their energy from chemosynthetic bacteria. The bacteria actually live inside the worms.

Are you glad this chapter is over? I am! LOL….

Lesson Summary

  • Most autotrophs make food using photosynthesis. This process occurs in two stages: the light reactions and the Calvin cycle.
  • Both stages of photosynthesis take place in chloroplasts. The light reactions take place in the thylakoid membranes, and the Calvin cycle takes place in the stroma.
  • The light reactions capture energy from sunlight, which they change to chemical energy that is stored in molecules of NADPH and ATP. The light reactions also release oxygen gas as a waste product.
  • The reactions of the Calvin cycle add carbon (from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere) to a simple five-carbon molecule called RuBP. These reactions use chemical energy from NADPH and ATP that were produced in the light reactions. The final product of the Calvin cycle is glucose.
  • Some bacterial autotrophs make food using chemosynthesis. This process uses chemical energy instead of light energy to produce food.

Lesson Review Questions

Recall

1. What are the stages of photosynthesis? Which stage occurs first?

2. Describe the chloroplast and its role in photosynthesis.

3. Summarize what happens during the light reactions of photosynthesis.

4. What happens during the carbon fixation step of the Calvin cycle?

5. During which stage of photosynthesis is glucose made?

Think Critically

6. Explain the role of the first electron transport chain in the formation of ATP during the light reactions of photosynthesis.

7. Explain what might happen if the third step of the Calvin cycle did not occur.

8. Plants release oxygen during the day but not during the night. Explain why.

Points to Consider

All living things need to break down glucose to make ATP for energy. Cellular respiration is the process in which this occurs.

  • How do you think cellular respiration occurs? What steps do you think might be involved?
  • How many molecules of ATP do you think cells get from a single molecule of glucose?

Previous: Energy for Life

Next: Powering the Cell: Cellular Respiration

10 thoughts on “4.2 Photosynthesis: Sugar as Food

  1. Poor selection of that video, Crash Course Biology #8. Not only vulgar, but presents Calvin Cycle as proof of “unintelligent design” — a random mutation that is badly engineered. Why bother with this when there are preferable alternatives? Did anyone watch the whole thing before you decided to include it? Your choices are usually pretty good.

    1. Thank you so much for your comment. I have previewed all of the videos, but I watched that one again to see if there was any vulgar language. I didn’t catch any. It’s possible I missed something. If there is a specific concern, please share the time stamp when it occurs and I’ll leave a warning about it. I did already warn about comments in the video concerning evolution but have updated the “warning” after reading your comment to include the “joke” about unintelligent design. I still think this is one of the best videos I’ve found that explains photosynthesis, which can be a pretty complex topic. I do appreciate you sharing your thoughts about it, though. I understand that every family is different in what they find acceptable or not.

  2. Poor selection of that video, Crash Course Biology #8. Not only vulgar, but presents Calvin Cycle as proof of “unintelligent design” — a random mutation that is badly engineered. Why bother with this when there are preferable alternatives? Did anyone watch the whole thing before you decided to include it? Your choices are usually pretty good.

  3. Grettings from Italy!
    I just wanted to thank you for posting such a great chapter that explains everything in the best way possible! I homeschool and I find biology totally boring, especially when you have to study it from a schoolbook without any teacher to explain the subject! Biology is now more interesting than ever before, and the videos and exercises make it easier for me to understand more in depth the subject that I am studying. Here in Italy, we have a good education system but it does lack creativity and motivation when it comes to teaching students harder subjects, and the school books can be quite boring too!

    God bless you
    Stefania

    1. Thank you so much for your kind comment! 🙂

  4. Grettings from Italy!
    I just wanted to thank you for posting such a great chapter that explains everything in the best way possible! I homeschool and I find biology totally boring, especially when you have to study it from a schoolbook without any teacher to explain the subject! Biology is now more interesting than ever before, and the videos and exercises make it easier for me to understand more in depth the subject that I am studying. Here in Italy, we have a good education system but it does lack creativity and motivation when it comes to teaching students harder subjects, and the school books can be quite boring too!

    God bless you
    Stefania

  5. I’ve only gotten this far in the course, but I really just wanted to appreciate all the time and work you’ve put into this to make it both enjoyable and educational. Thank you so much! 😊

    1. Thank you so much for the comment! We are so glad you are enjoying the course! We wish you the best!

  6. Awesome course it’s definitely not boring and It’s really fun!

    1. So glad you are enjoying the course! 🙂

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