Process of Photosynthesis

Process of Photosynthesis

The process of photosynthesis is conveniently divided into two parts: the energy‐fixing reaction (also called the light reaction) and the carbon‐fixing reaction (also called the light‐independent reaction, or the dark reaction).

Energy-fixing reaction

The energy‐fixing reaction of photosynthesis begins when light is absorbed in photosystem II in the thylakoid membranes. The energy of the sunlight, captured in the P680 reaction center, activates electrons to jump out of the chlorophyll molecules in the reaction center. These electrons pass through a series of cytochromes in the nearby electron‐transport system.

After passing through the electron transport system, the energy‐rich electrons eventually enter photosystem 1. Some of the energy of the electron is lost as the electron moves along the chain of acceptors, but a portion of the energy pumps protons across the thylakoid membrane, and this pumping sets up the potential for chemiosmosis.

The spent electrons from P680 enter the P700 reaction center in photosystem I. Sunlight now activates the electrons, which receive a second boost out of the chlorophyll molecules. There they reach a high energy level. Now the electrons progress through a second electron transport system, but this time there is no proton pumping. Rather, the energy reduces NADP. This reduction occurs as two electrons join NADP and energize the molecule. Because NADP acquires two negatively charged electrons, it attracts two positively charged protons to balance the charges. Consequently, the NADP molecule is reduced to NADPH, a molecule that contains much energy.

Because electrons have flowed out of the P680 reaction center, the chlorophyll molecules are left without a certain number of electrons. Electrons secured from water molecules replace these electrons. Each split water molecule releases two electrons that enter the chlorophyll molecules to replace those lost. The split water molecules also release two...