Lecture 2: Photosynthesis

photosynthesis
Photo means light and synthesis means to
make
Process in which plants convert carbon
dioxide and water into sugars using solar
energy
Occurs in chloroplast

Photosynthesis:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O

C6 H12 O6 + 6 O2

carbon dioxide + water =

sugar + oxygen

photosynthetic
products often
stored as starch
Starch = glucose
polymer
Tracking atoms

STARCH

Fig. 10.1

Fig. 10.2a

Fig. 10.2b

Fig. 10.2c

Fig. 10.4

Chlorophyll
Absorbs red & blue light
Reflects green light

Fig. 10.6

Fig. 10.8

Fig. 10.20

Fig. 10.17

Rubisco
Ribulose bisphosphate
carboxylase oxygenase
(fixes CO2 & O2)
Enzyme in Calvin
Cycle (1st step)
Most abundant protein
on Earth
Ca. 25% total leaf
protein

Photorespiration

When rubisco fixes O2, not CO2

Lose 1/2 C as CO2; costs 2.5 extra ATP
Take up O2
Only occurs in light
Occurs 1 out of 4 reactions under todays
atmospheric [CO2]
Rate increases with temperature

Types of photosynthesis
C3
The majority of plants

C4
CO2 temporarily stored as 4-C organic acids resulting in more
more efficient C exchange rate
Advantage in high light, high temperature, low CO 2
Many grasses and crops (e.g., corn, sorghum, millet, sugar cane)

CAM
Stomata open during night
Advantage in arid climates
Many succulents (e.g., cacti, euphorbs, bromeliades, agaves)

Fig. 10.21

Fig. 10.22

Global Environmental Change &

Photosynthesis:
C3 vs. C4 vs. CAM
Increasing CO2
Increasing chronic and acute temperatures
Increasing N (vs. decreasing C:N from
increasing CO2)
Changes in water

CO2 effects on photosynthesis

C4 > C3 at low CO2
But, C3 > C4 at high CO2

*At high CO2, C3 more efficient than C4 at all temps.

(photosynthesis only, not other processes)

Photosynthetic N-use efficiency

C4 plants need (have) less leaf N than C3
Photosynthesis higher per unit N in C4
Humans are increasing global N, which
benefits C3 more than C4
Increasing CO2 decreases leaf N content,
more in C3 than C4

Photosynthetic water-use
efficiency
C4 plants use less water than C3
(cause stomates open less)
Water availability may increase or decrease
in the future.

Predicting the future for plants

How will increases in CO2, N, and chronic
and acute heat stress affect photosynthesis?
Who will win or lose? C3? C4?
How will pollution (eg, ozone) interact?
Current research in my lab an example.

Elevated CO2

Hypothesis
Increased
leaf C:N

High CO2 effects

greater in C3 than C4
and CAM species.
High CO2 effects
greater on induced than
basal thermotolerance.

Decreased Heat-shock
proteins (Hsps)

Decreased
thermotolerance

no-pre-hs

pre-hs

40
30

corn

20

corn

10
0
40

30

sorghum

sorghum

20

Heat stress decreased

Pn in all species
(not the result of
stomatal closure).

Pn

10
0

Elevated CO2 had

negative effects on Pn
of C4 species, and
positive effects on C3
species.

40
30

barley

20

barley

10
0
40

wheat

30

wheat

20
10
0

Time (h)

Time (h)
700ppm CO2
370ppm CO2

Pre-heat shock has a

positive effect on Pn.

no-pre-hs

pre-hs

corn

0.6

corn

0.4
0.2
0.0
0.6 0

4
5
sorghum

3
4
sorghum

Heat shock
decreased et of all
C3 and C4 species

0.4

There was negative

CO2 effects on all
species, except for
wheat

0.2

Barley

0.4

Barley

0.2
0.0
0.6

0.6

wheat

0.4

wheat
Y Data

et

0.0
0.6

0.2

There was positive

Pre-HS effects on all
species

0.4

0.2

0.0
0.6

arabidopsis

0.0

arabidopsis

0.4
0.2
0.0

6 0

time (h)

SoyFACE: CO2 & ozone

photosynthetic electron transport

0.8
control
heat-stressed
0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

_______
ambient
CO2 &
ozone

_______
elevated
CO2

_______
elevated
ozone

_______
elevated
CO2 &
ozone

The End