The electron ejected by P680 in light reaction is initially accepted b...
During the light reaction, the path of the electron has been elucidated in the Z-scheme. It is named so because of its shape and was first proposed by Hill and Bendall in 1960. The electron released by reaction center of photosystem II i.e., P680 moves uphill and reduces pheophytin, a nonmagnesium chlorophyll a molecule. From pheophytin, electrons are accepted by plastoquinone which requires two electrons for complete reduction. It also accepts two protons from the stromal side of thylakoid membrane and becomes reduced to PQH2 after accepting 2 electrons and 2 protons. It is the only carrier in the photosynthetic electron transport chain, which can bind both electrons and protons.
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The electron ejected by P680 in light reaction is initially accepted b...
The Electron Transport Chain in Photosynthesis
In the light reactions of photosynthesis, the electron transport chain plays a crucial role in the conversion of light energy into chemical energy. This process occurs in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplasts and involves several protein complexes and electron carriers.
1. Photosystem II (PSII)
The electron transport chain starts with the absorption of light energy by the pigment molecule chlorophyll a in Photosystem II (PSII). This energy excites an electron in the chlorophyll molecule, which is then transferred to the primary electron acceptor, P680 (a specialized chlorophyll a molecule).
2. Electron Transfer to Plastoquinone (PQ)
Once the electron is transferred to P680, it becomes highly reactive and is immediately passed on to the electron carrier plastoquinone (PQ). Plastoquinone is a mobile carrier that shuttles electrons between different protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane.
3. Plastoquinone (PQ)
Plastoquinone accepts the high-energy electron from P680 and becomes reduced (PQH2). It then diffuses within the hydrophobic region of the thylakoid membrane to deliver the electron to the next protein complex in the electron transport chain.
4. Cytochrome b6f Complex
The reduced plastoquinone (PQH2) transfers its electron to the cytochrome b6f complex, another protein complex in the thylakoid membrane. This complex uses the electron to pump protons (H+) across the membrane, establishing a proton gradient.
5. Plastocyanin (PC)
The electron is then transferred from the cytochrome b6f complex to plastocyanin (PC), another mobile electron carrier. Plastocyanin shuttles the electron to Photosystem I (PSI), the next protein complex in the electron transport chain.
6. Photosystem I (PSI)
Photosystem I (PSI) absorbs light energy, similar to PSII, and transfers it to a specialized chlorophyll a molecule called P700. The excited electron in P700 is then transferred to another primary electron acceptor.
7. Ferredoxin (Fd)
The electron is passed from the primary electron acceptor of PSI to a small protein called ferredoxin (Fd). Ferredoxin accepts the electron and becomes reduced.
8. NADP+ Reductase
Finally, the reduced ferredoxin (Fd) transfers the electron to an enzyme called NADP+ reductase. This enzyme catalyzes the transfer of the electron to NADP+, along with a proton (H+), to form NADPH, a high-energy molecule that carries the electrons and protons to the Calvin cycle for the synthesis of carbohydrates.
Therefore, in the light reactions of photosynthesis, the electron ejected by P680 in PSII is initially accepted by plastoquinone (PQ). Plastoquinone acts as a mobile electron carrier, shuttling the electron to the next protein complex in the electron transport chain.
The electron ejected by P680 in light reaction is initially accepted b...
Plastoquinone
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