Photosynthesis Cyclic Electron Flow and The Calvin Cycle Amusical Lecture by Wolkenfeld Thanks for joining us Episode Two, more ‘bout photosynthesic waits for you. We last saw how plant cells create, O¬¬2, and NADPH. Now we’ll start with a twist on the reactions, Called cyclic flow, we’ll see how it Then we will investigate how Calvin Cycle makes carbohydrate. (Part Cyclic Electron Flow) Non – cyclic flow is also called the “Z – scheme” Put Z its site and see what I mean. Electrons rise in energy fall and rise again. Making ATP NADPH my friends. A variation this is cyclic flow. Which makes no NADPH or O. flow results from the Calvin Cycle’s needs. It uses less than ATP. NADPH buildup has the repercussion, inhibiting NADP+ reduction. ‘cause clogs up reductase. Keepping NADP+ moving into place. So electrons go to NADP+. They’re clogged, stuck like a pus. Where can they go P700? Nature evolved them place to flow. A shunt pathway moves them the ETC. I’m talking ‘bout the one in PS II see. These energized flow and release energy. Which as you is used to synthesize ATP. ( II: Calvin Cycle) Now it’s time to learn the cycle named Calvin. Which results in fixation of carbon. Consider that each carbon in your blood and hair, Was once a CO2 in the air. Calvin Cycle has three parts. Fixation of is how it starts. molecules produced rae then reduced. ‘cause reduction the key thing that happens in part 2. Part 2 is the as you will see. It molecule G3P A reduced molecule with lots of And a starting point for all the that cells need. Part 3 sets up conditions for the cycle’s By recreating what’s the cycle’s heart. RuBP (Ribulose Bisphosphate), a five molecule that seems to apparate. RuBP’s at the cycle’s start. Then reappears the very last part. The role RuBP at the start and end. Is this is a cycle like the one named Krebs. The cycle’s inputs are know to NADPH and ATP and CO2 Fixation of carbon is catalyzed RuBP Carboxylase Enzyme This enzyme’s you should know. Sounds like a cookie maker: RUBISCO. An so old it was already here, Before O2 in the air. CO2 enters through leaf stoma, diffusing through the leaf and arriving at the stroma. There RuBisCO grabs it in its active site, and squeezes with RuBP tight. RuBP carbons five, it has two phosphates, one on each side. CO2 combines with RuBP it makes a six carbon compound you won’t see. It instantly into two 3 – phosphoglycerates, Each with three carbons and phosphate. Each phosphorylated to bisphosohoglycerate. Phosohorylated means that each receives aphosphate from ATP. This phospharylation, followed by reduction. And you know there’s enzyme with the function. Of taking electrons and H from NADPH and adding them to to Take off a for Glycealdehyde – Phosphate. A starting point for compounds carbohydrates. (Part III: Calvin Cycle, Glyceraldehyde- – phosphat, known as G3P, as a product harvest, and I hope you see, how reactions NADPH and ATP, are needed to fix CO2 make organic energy. And to complete the cycle must now regenerate. starting point of Calvin Cycle ribulose bisphosphate. The intermediates involved in taking And recombining into RuBPs. Are too much freshman biology. You get the details when you get yors Ph. D. know for now that to get 3 RuBPs from 5 G3Ps cost 3 ATPs! (Part IV: Conclusion) Now this journey ends its emphasis, the reaction of photosynthesis. For over billion years it’s been the food chains basis. In fossils from that era you can the traces, Of tiny cells prokaryotic form. Stromatolites that lived waters warm. Through photosynthesis they our planet, So aerobic life live upon it. And so sentient beings who can analyze, How can photosynthesize. You could say that photosynthesis gave birth to codiyions for ciousness on Planet Earth!