FA601 Photosynthesis

Faculty of Science
Spring 2015
Extent and Intensity
1/0/0. 1 credit(s) (plus extra credits for completion). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Ondřej Prášil, CSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. RNDr. Josef Humlíček, CSc.
Department of Condensed Matter Physics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. Dr. Jiří Kozelka, PhD.
Supplier department: Department of Condensed Matter Physics – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Timetable
Thu 15:00–15:50 Kontaktujte učitele
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
  • Biophysics (programme PřF, B-FY) (2)
  • Biophysics (programme PřF, N-FY, specialization Aplikovaná biofyzika) (2)
  • Biophysics (programme PřF, N-FY, specialization Molekulární biofyzika) (2)
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to provide the student with current knowledge about photosynthesis. Beside theoretical background of photosynthetic processes and the structure of photosynthetic apparatus the course informs also about the experimental biophysical methods used in photosynthesis. The course is suitable to students that are interested in bioenergetics or work with plants, algae or photosynthetic bacteria.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction – energetics of photosynthesis (OP). Light as a source of energy for photosynthesis. Sun and its spectrum. Optical properties of the atmosphere and water. Principals of bioenergetics and photosynthesis. Photochemical energy transformation. Oxidation-reduction reactions, equilibrium and kinetic constants.
  • 2. Photosynthetic organisms and organelles (OP). Energetics of different metabolic strategies. Diversity of photosynthetic organisms. Origin and evolution of photosynthesis. Photosynthetic (bacterial, thylakoid) membrane - composition, architecture. Lumen, stroma.
  • 3. History of photosynthesis research (OP). Parallel advancement of biophysical method and knowledge about photosynthesis. Chemical description of photosynthesis. Light and dark reactions. Photosynthetic unit. Principle of oxygen electrode. Action spectra, quantum yields, efficiency of photochemistry and photosynthesis, absorption cross-section. Discovery of reaction centres and Z-scheme of photosynthesis.
  • 4. Photosynthetic pigments (TP): Chlorophylls, carotenoids, phycobilins. Structure, spectroscopy. Molecular orbitals, electron transitions, de-excitation pathways. Synthesis of pigments and its regulation.
  • 5. Light-harvesting antennae (TP). Physical principles of absorption and transfer of energy. Förster and Dexter mechanisms of energy transfer. Biophysical methods for monitoring absorption and energy transfer. Antennae complexes – classification, structure, function and evolution. Regulation of light-harvesting function (quenching, state-transitions).
  • 6. Reaction centers (OP). Principles of charge separation and stabilization in reaction centres, recombination. Primary donor. Triplets. Tunnelling. Mechanisms of electron transfer in proteins (Marcus theory). Reaction centres - types, function and structure, phylogenesis. Primary photochemical reakctions of bacterial and oxygenic photosynthesis. Acceptor side of Photosystem 2, quinones and herbicides. Donor sides of Photosystem 2: oxygen evolution, mechanism and structure.
  • 7. Photosynthetic electron transport chain (OP). Z-scheme. Proton transfer. Cytochromes, Q cycle. Diffusion through the membrane. Mobile electron carriers. Plastocyanin, ferredoxin. Cyclic transport and Mehler reaction. Formation of oxygen radicals. Regulation of electron transport, photoinhibition.
  • 8. Electrochemical properties of thylakoids (VŠ). Chemiosmotic theory. ATP synthase. Formation of membrane gradient. Photophosphorylation. Uncouplers and inhibitors. Regulation of electron transfer and ATP synthesis.
  • 9. Carbon metabolism (OP). Calvin-Benson cycle - regulation, photorespiration. C3, beta-carboxylation, C4 and CAM. Physical chemistry of inorganic carbon compounds. Isotopes. Diffusion and mechanisms of CO2 concentration, active transport of CO2.
  • 10. Artificial photosynthesis (TP). Energetic, structural and economic requirements; mimics of reaction centers; artificial antenna systems; examples of potentially suitable molecules; principal problems and their possible solutions.
  • 11. Selected biophysical metods of photosynthesis (OP) – variable chlorophyll fluorescence, photoacoustics.
  • 12. Global photosynthesis (OP).
Teaching methods
lectures
Assessment methods
oral exam
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2015, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2015/FA601