Questions for Lecture 4: †Biochemistry: Light Reactions of
Bacterial and Plant Photosynthesis

[ The sun is not only the author of visibility in all visible things, but of generation and nourishment and growth. "Plato's Republic"]

Although, in reality, the only true light reactions are the reactions at the two reaction center chlorophylls, P680 and P700, the term has been traditionally used for all the steps that lead to the oxidation of water to oxygen, and production of the reducing power (NADPH) and of ATP.

ï By the end of your preparation on this topic, you should be able to:

     © 1. Describe and discuss the overall equation of photosynthesis, i.e., the reactants and products,
              the source of oxygen, and the maximum quantum yield of oxygen evolution.

     © 2. What are the major concepts involved in photosynthesis up to the time light energy is
              converted into chemical energy?

     © 5. Discuss the pathway of energy from the time it is captured by the antenna pigment
              molecules (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids) to the time it is converted into
              chemical energy at the reaction center molecules (the Worldπs most efficient
             solarbattery).

ï Outline of presentation :
            For outline of presentation and for the legends of figures, see the Handbook for the course "Biology 121 Notes, Spring, 1998, University of Illinois, Plant Biology: Ecology and Organismic Plant Biology" by Govindjee, Stipes Publishing, Champaign,IL.

    © Slides used in the class are to be found elsewhere on these Web pages.

Questions for Lecture 4: †Biochemistry: Light Reactions of Bacterial and Plant Photosynthesis

Questions for Lecture 4: †Biochemistry: Light Reactions of
Bacterial and Plant Photosynthesis