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