PHOTOSYNTHESIS: A Summary by Erwin P.

Peji
June 6, 2014 Page 1 of 1
The Process of Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis is one of the most beneficial
processes in the living world. It is a process being performed
by the different photoautotrophic organisms like plants, algae,
and cyanobacteria. In this process, light energy from the sun is
converted to chemical energy. In this mechanism, light energy
is absorbed by the molecules of the green pigment protein
chlorophyll in the photosynthetic cell, exciting some of the
electrons of the molecules. The chlorophyll a, is the type of
chlorophyll principally used by green plants, algae, and
cyanobacteria. In green plants and algae, chlorophyll a is
located in the membranous thylakoids of chloroplasts while in
cyanobacteria; the said pigment is located in their thylakoids
found in their photosynthetic structures. Other bacteria use
bacteriochlorophylls.
In the leaves of plants is the palisade layer consisting
cells rich in chloroplasts. Chloroplasts are organelles holding
the green pigment protein chlorophyll. Below the palisade
layer is the spongy layer. This layer consists of cells that
accommodate the raw materials necessary to carry out
photosynthesis. These raw materials are the CO
2
(carbon
dioxide) and H
2
O (water). The CO
2
enters the plant through
the stomata, the pores in the leaves that serve as the opening
for gas entry and gas exit. On the other hand, H
2
O came from
the moisture absorbed by the roots from the soil and is
conducted upward by the vascular tissues called xylem.
Photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria
can be summarized with the following equation:


6CO
2
+ 12H
2
0 C
6
H
12
O
6
+ 6H
2
0 + 60
2



FIGURE 1: Summary Equation of Photosynthesis

Chlorophyll a trapped the light energy from the sun
and converts it to chemical energy. The chemical energy is
then used to convert CO
2
from the atmosphere to more
reduced carbon compounds, primarily sugars. Photosynthesis
refers to the assembly of the organic compounds using the
trapped light energy. The synthesis of sugars by using carbon
atoms from CO
2
is also called carbon fixation.
In the course of photosynthesis, electrons are taken
from the hydrogen atoms, an energy-poor molecule, and
incorporated into sugar, an energy-rich molecule. The energy
boost is supplied by light energy, although indirectly.
In the process of photosynthesis, the water is both a
reactant and a product. The equation in Figure 2 is written in
slightly more detailed than the summary photosynthesis
equation you often see.

Reactants: 6CO
2
12H
2
O



Products: C
6
H
12
O
6
6H
2
O 6O
2

FIGURE 2: Fates of all the atoms in Photosynthesis

Stages of Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis takes place into two stages: the light-
dependent reaction which takes place within the thylakoid
membranes and the light-independent reaction which takes
place at the stroma. The first stage is the light-dependent
reactions (Light Reaction Phase) which include the steps that
convert light energy to chemical energy and produce O
2
gas as
a waste product. The light energy absorbed by the chlorophyll
molecules built into the thylakoid membranes is used to
convert ADP and P to ATP. It is also used to drive a transfer
of electrons from water to NADP
+
, an electron carrier similar
to NAD
+
that carries electrons in cellular respiration. In
addition, in the predominant form of the light-dependent
reactions, enzymes reduce the electron carrier NADP
+
to
NADPH by adding a pair of light-excited electrons along with
an H
+
. This reaction temporarily stores the energized
electrons. The electrons originally came from water; it is in the
light reactions that water is split and O
2
is released. The
second stage is the light-independent (dark) reaction (Calvin-
Benson Cycle). The Calvin Cycle functions like a sugar
factory within a chloroplast. It is a cyclic series of reactions
that assembles sugar molecules using CO
2
(from the air) and
ATP and NADPH (both generated by the light-dependent
reactions). Using carbon from CO
2
, energy from ATP, and
high-energy electrons from NADPH, the Calvin Cycle
constructs an energy-rich, three-carbon sugar, glyceraldehyde-
3-phosphate (G3P). A plant cell can use G3P to make glucose
and other molecules as needed.

REFERENCES:

Campbell, Neil A., Reece, Jane B., Taylor, Martha R., Simon,
Eric J., 2006, Biology Concepts and Connections, 5
th

Edition, Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food,
Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Benjamin-
Cummings, Pearson Education South Asia Pte Ltd.
23-25 First Lok Yang Road, Jurong, Singapore
629733, pp. 107-120

Tortora, Gerard J., Funke, Berdell R., Case, Christine L.,
2007, Microbiology: An Introduction, 9
th
Edition,
Photosynthesis, Pearson Education, Inc., publishing
as Benjamin-Cummings, Pearson Education South
Asia Pte Ltd. 23-25 First Lok Yang Road, Jurong,
Singapore 629733, pp. 141-143

Navarette, Bonifacio Jr. V., Enojado, Malyn B., Garcia,
Gemma B., 2012, Discovering Science 5, Plant
Processes: Photosynthesis, FUTUREBUILDER
Publications, Inc., Unit 2217 Embarcadero St. Sta.
Ana, Manila, Metro Manila Philippines




*For more details about photosynthesis, try to see the
references above or look for other reliable materials.


Light energy
Chlorophyll a