Photosynthesis re-wired on the pico-second timescale (2024)

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  • Photosynthesis re-wired on the pico-second timescale (2024)

    FAQs

    What happens to the electrons in the second phase of photosynthesis? ›

    Photosystem II

    After the special pair gives up its electron, it has a positive charge and needs a new electron. This electron is provided through the splitting of water molecules, a process carried out by a portion of PSII called the manganese center ‍ .

    What is the difference between photosystem 1 and 2 PDF? ›

    Within the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast, are two photosystems. Photosystem I optimally absorbs photons of a wavelength of 700 nm. Photosystem II optimally absorbs photons of a wavelength of 680 nm. The numbers indicate the order in which the photosystems were discovered, not the order of electron transfer.

    What is the difference between photosystem I and photosystem II? ›

    The primary distinguishing factor between Photosystem I and Photosystem II is their light absorption capacity. PS I absorbs light of longer wavelengths that are greater than 680nm, while PS II absorbs light of shorter wavelengths that are less than 680 nm.

    What does light do when it strikes the chlorophyll molecules of photosystems I and II? ›

    A photon of light hits chlorophyll, causing an electron to be energized. The free electron travels through the electron transport chain, and the energy of the electron is used to pump hydrogen ions into the thylakoid space, transferring the energy into the electrochemical gradient.

    What happens in the 2nd stage of photosynthesis? ›

    In the second stage, ATP and NADPH are used to convert the 3-PGA molecules into molecules of a three-carbon sugar, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate (G3P). This stage gets its name because NADPH donates electrons to, or reduces, a three-carbon intermediate to make G3P.

    What happens during the 2nd part of photosynthesis light-independent? ›

    In fixation, the first stage of the Calvin cycle, light-independent reactions are initiated; CO2 is fixed from an inorganic to an organic molecule. In the second stage, ATP and NADPH are used to reduce 3-PGA into G3P; then ATP and NADPH are converted to ADP and NADP+, respectively.

    What is photosystem 2 for dummies? ›

    Photosystem II (PSII) is the multi-enzymatic chlorophyll-protein complex in the thylakoid membrane of cyanobacteria, algae and higher plants. It catalyses the light-induced transfer of electrons from water to plastoquinone in a process that evolves oxygen (Figure 1).

    What does photosystem 1 and 2 do in photosynthesis? ›

    In (a) photosystem II, the electron comes from the splitting of water, which releases oxygen as a waste product. In (b) photosystem I, the electron comes from the chloroplast electron transport chain. The two photosystems absorb light energy through proteins containing pigments, such as chlorophyll.

    What is photosystem 2 also known as? ›

    Photosystem II (PSII), also known as water-plastoquinone oxidoreductase, is a large membrane protein complex located in the thylakoid membrane of organisms ranging from cyanobacteria to higher plants.

    What does photosystem II directly do? ›

    Photosystem II, located in the thylakoid membranes of green plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, uses sunlight to split water into protons, electrons, and a dioxygen molecule.

    What are the different roles of photosystem I and photosystem II in photosynthesis? ›

    The key difference between both the photosystems – Photosystem I and photosystem II is that PS I tends to absorb light of longer wavelengths > 680nm, whereas PS II absorbs light of shorter wavelengths <680 nm.

    Does photosystem II pass electrons to photosystem I? ›

    From photosystem II, electrons are carried by plastocyanin (a peripheral membrane protein) to photosystem I, where the absorption of additional photons again generates high-energy electrons. Photosystem I, however, does not act as a proton pump; instead, it uses these high-energy electrons to reduce NADP+ to NADPH.

    What happens to photosystem 2 during photosynthesis? ›

    Photosystem II is the first link in the chain of photosynthesis. It captures photons and uses the energy to extract electrons from water molecules.

    What is the splitting of water at photosystem 2 called? ›

    The splitting of water molecules is called photolysis of water.

    What happens to excited electrons when they leave photosystem 2? ›

    What does light do when it strikes the chlorophyll molecules of photosystems I and II? After light excites electrons and they leave Photosystem II to travel down the first electron transport chain.

    What happens to electrons in photosystem 2? ›

    The electrons that have left photosystem II need to be replaced, and these electrons are provided by the photolysis of water. Water is split into oxygen and hydrogen by light energy, which also releases electrons.

    What happens to electrons that are released during photosynthesis? ›

    Water molecules are broken down to release electrons. These electrons then move down a gradient, storing energy in ATP in the process. Image by Jina Lee. Photosystem I and II don't align with the route electrons take through the transport chain because they weren't discovered in that order.

    Where do electrons get their energy in photosynthesis 2? ›

    Answer and Explanation: Electrons in photosystem II get their energy from light at a wavelength of 680 nm. This light is absorbed by chlorophyll and is used to eject the electrons from the photosytem. The electrons are subsequently shuttled through various electron carriers via redox reactions.

    Where do the electrons from PS2 go? ›

    Within the photosystem, enzymes capture photons of light to energize electrons that are then transferred through a variety of coenzymes and cofactors to reduce plastoquinone to plastoquinol. The energized electrons are replaced by oxidizing water to form hydrogen ions and molecular oxygen.

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