Google Class Photosynthesis: FY Botany

2.5. PHOTOSYNTHETIC ELECTRON

TRANSPORT
16 April 2020 Dr. Vijendra Shekhawat

Key Concepts:
- Photosystems:
• Cluster of pigments and proteins embedded within the thylakoid membrane.
• Contain accessory pigments that surround chlorophyll a, the main pigment of
photosynthesis. Occurs in the thylakoid membrane of chloroplasts
• Are able to absorb the maximum amount of light possible due to the accessory
pigments and chlorophyll a.
– Energy from sun is captured and converted to chemical form (ATP, NADPH)
– Light strikes chlorophyll; Reaction center molecules excited to a higher energy level
– Excited electrons captured by electron acceptor
– The electrons in hydrogen from water replace the ‘hole” left by excited electrons of
reactive chlorophyll; Oxygen is released
– Electron acceptor passes excited electrons to another acceptor…down an electron
transport chain, ATP formed by chemiosmosis
– Excited electrons captured by electron acceptor NADP+ (Nicotinamide Adenine
Dinucleotide Phosphate)--> NADPH formed
– NADPH+H and ATP are used to power the Calvin Cycle (Light Independent Reactions)

 PHOTOSYNTHETIC ELECTRON TRANSPORT

-There are two different systems for transport of electrons in photosynthesis.

o Non-cyclic electron transport produces NADPH + H+ and ATP and O2
 e- come in from H2O and leave on NADPH
o Cyclic electron transport produces only ATP
 e- come from Chl and are returned to Chl

Photons excite the specialized chlorophyll of the reaction center (P680 for PSII,
and P700 for PSI), and an electron is ejected. The electron then passes through
a series of electron carriers and eventually reduces P700 (for electrons from
PSII) or NADP+ (for electrons from PSI).

NON CYCLIC ELECTRON TRANSPORT

Photosystem II works with Photosystem I and two series of enzymes imbedded in the thylakoid
membrane to transfer energy from the form of light to that stored in chemical bands and
gradients which the plant can use in a process called Noncyclic photophosphorylation. It not
only transfers the electrons for PS I but also is responsible for ATP production. This process is
noncyclic because once electrons are lost by a reaction center chlorophyll molecule within a
photosystem, they do not return to that system and end up in NADPH.
1. The photon strikes photosystem II and excites an electron of chlorophyll P680. The excited
electron is captured by a primary electron acceptor. The electron (e-) ejected from Photo II
is accepted by a molecule called pheophytin. Pheophytin is a chlorophyll in which the
central magnesium atom has been replaced by two hydrogen atoms.
2. A Z (or called Yz) protein splits water into oxygen, protons (H+), and electrons. Two of
these electrons are used to replace the missing electrons in chlorophyll P680. Oxygen leaves
the chloroplast as a byproduct, and the protons remain in the thylakoid space, adding to the
H+ gradient that powers chemiosmosis.
3. From phrophytin, Through a series of redox reactions, the electron is transferred to an
electron carrier called plastoquinone (PQ). Pheophytin transfers electrons to the acceptors
Google Class Photosynthesis: FY Botany
2.5. PHOTOSYNTHETIC ELECTRON
TRANSPORT
16 April 2020 Dr. Vijendra Shekhawat

QA and QB (which are plastoquinones). atoms. Two plastoquinones (QA and QB) are
bound to the reaction center and receive electrons from pheophytin in a sequential fashion.
4. Transfer of the two electrons to QB reduces it to QB 2–, and the reduced QB 2– takes two
protons from the stroma side of the medium, yielding a fully reduced plastohydroquinone
(QH2)
5. Plastoquinone then transfer the electrons to the b6–f Cytochrome complex which transports
protons from the stroma into the thylakoid lumen against their concentration gradient, thus
creating an H+ gradient that stores energy as a proton-motive force.
6. Protons are translocated into the thylakoid lumen for each pair of electrons that passes
through the transport chain.
7. The cytochrome b6 f complex transfers electrons to another mobile electron carrier,
plastocyanin (Pc) which transfers the electrons to the photosystem I complex P700+
(oxidized P700) where photons re-energize the electrons.
8. The electrons from photosystem I (P700*) are passed to A0 that is is thought to be a
chlorophyll that in turn transfers electron to the next acceptor – A1 i.e. a quinone. A series of
membrane-bound iron–sulfur proteins (FeSX, FeSA, and FeSB) transfers electrons to
soluble ferredoxin (Fd).
9. The soluble flavoprotein ferredoxin–NADP reductase (FNR) reduces NADP+ to NADPH,
which is used in the Calvin cycle to reduce CO2. Thus completing the noncyclic electron
transport.

FIGURE Detailed Z scheme for O2-evolving photosynthetic organisms. The redox carriers are placed at their midpoint redox potentials
(at pH 7). (1) The vertical arrows represent photon absorption by the reaction center chlorophylls: P680 for photosystem II (PSII) and
P700 for photosystem I (PSI). The excited PSII reaction center chlorophyll, P680*, transfers an electron to pheophytin (Pheo). (2) On the
oxidizing side of PSII (to the left of the arrow joining P680 with P680*), P680 oxidized by light is re-reduced by Yz , that has received
electrons from oxidation of water. (3) On the reducing side of PSII (to the right of the arrow joining P680 with P680*), pheophytin
transfers electrons to the acceptors QA and QB, which are plastoquinones. (4) The cytochrome b6 f complex transfers electrons to
plastocyanin (PC), a soluble protein, which in turn reduces P700+ (oxidized P700). (5) The acceptor of electrons from P700* (A0) is
thought to be a chlorophyll, and the next acceptor (A1) is a quinone. A series of membrane-bound iron–sulfur proteins (FeSX, FeSA, and
FeSB) transfers electrons to soluble ferredoxin (Fd). (6) The soluble flavoprotein ferredoxin–NADP reductase (FNR) reduces NADP+ to
NADPH, which is used in the Calvin cycle to reduce CO2. The dashed line indicates cyclic electron flow around PSI.
Google Class Photosynthesis: FY Botany
2.5. PHOTOSYNTHETIC ELECTRON
TRANSPORT
16 April 2020 Dr. Vijendra Shekhawat

Two diagrammatic representations of concept

CYCLIC ELECTRON TRANSPORT

• This cyclic pathway of electron Transport involves only Photosystem I and takes
place under condition which exclude non-cyclic photosynthetic electron transport.
Occurs under certain conditions:
- The Calvin cycle uses up more ATP than NADPH – the cyclic flow makes up for this
difference
- High NADPH relative to ATP in the Calvin cycle may cause cyclic flow to occur until
ATP production is substantial to drive the Calvin
- The extra ATP is needed to regenerate the RuBP in the Calvin cycle
• Cyclic electron flow that uses Photosystem I only.
• In this pathway, When P700 molecule is excited in pigment system I by
absorbing photon of light
• A photon ejects an electron from chlorophyll P700 of Photosystem I.
• The ejected electron is captured by Ferredoxin via FRS.
• And then goes through the Q cycle, the b6-f complex (Cytochrome chain), and
back to chlorophyll P700.
• This cyclic pathway generates ATP by creating a proton gradient for
chemiosmotic ATP synthesis.
(Cyclic electron transport and phosphorylation photolysis of water, O 2 evolution and
reduction of NADP+ do not take place)
• It does not release electrons to generate NADPH. Hence No production of
NADPH
• Since No photolysis is associated with it Hence no release of O2

• Significance of Cyclic Photophosphorylation:

1. The deficiency of ATP molecules in non operating conditions of non-cyclic
photophosphorylation is made up by the operation of cyclic
photophosphorylation for certain periods.
2. Cyclic photophosphorylation may be an important process in providing ATP for
synthetic processes (other than photosynthesis) e.g., synthesis of starch, proteins,
lipids, nucleic acids, pigments within the chloroplasts.
Google Class Photosynthesis: FY Botany
2.5. PHOTOSYNTHETIC ELECTRON
TRANSPORT
16 April 2020 Dr. Vijendra Shekhawat

Difference between Non Cyclic and Cyclic ETS in Photosynthesis

Non Cyclic Electron Transport and Cyclic Electron Transport and
Photophosphorylation Photophosphorylation
1. Involvement of both the Photo -systems 1.Involvement of only One Photosystem PS-I
PS-I and PS-II.
2.This involves photolysis of water that is 2.It does not involve photolysis of water
associated with oxygen evolution (release) therefore no evolution of oxygen takes place
3.Source of Electron in Water 3.Source of Electron is P-700
4. Electron ejected from PS-II is utilized in 4. Electron ejected from PS-I comes back to it
PS-I, and does not come back. through electron carriers.
5. Both ATP and NADPH2 are 5. It synthesizes only ATP.
synthesized.
6. Commonly takes place in green plants 6. It can take place even in isolated
only. chloroplast and bacterial photosynthesis.
7. DCMU inhibits the process 7. No effect of DCMU.

NOW WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE LIGHT ENERGY HAS BEEN

CONVERTEDINTO CHEMICAL ENERGY DURING PRIMARY
PHOTOCHEMICAL REACTION AND IS TRAPPED IN ATP AND NADPH
MOLECULES.