Topic
Photosynthesis
About: Photosynthesis is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 19789 publications have been published within this topic receiving 895197 citations.
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TL;DR: Under the more dim light of a young sun cooler than today's, certain groups of anaerobic bacteria may have been pumping out large amounts of methane, thereby keeping the early climate warm and inviting.
Abstract: Harvesting light to produce energy and oxygen (photosynthesis) is the signature of all land plants. This ability was co-opted from a precocious and ancient form of life known as cyanobacteria. Today these bacteria, as well as microscopic algae, supply oxygen to the atmosphere and churn out fixed nitrogen in Earth's vast oceans. Microorganisms may also have played a major role in atmosphere evolution before the rise of oxygen. Under the more dim light of a young sun cooler than today's, certain groups of anaerobic bacteria may have been pumping out large amounts of methane, thereby keeping the early climate warm and inviting. The evolution of Earth's atmosphere is linked tightly to the evolution of its biota.
414 citations
TL;DR: If it is assumed that there is an inverse linear relationship between percentage intactness and ability to react with ferricyanide, such assays over-estimate the proportion of intact chloroplasts and, therefore, underestimate their photosynthetic activity and protein content when these are expressed on a chlorophyll basis.
Abstract: SUMMARY
Chloroplast preparations capable of rapid rates of photosynthesis contain large numbers of intact (Class A) chloroplasts and smaller numbers of ruptured (Class C) chloroplasts. It is suggested that there is also a third or intermediate class in which the envelope has re-sealed following rupture and release of stromal protein. The number of re-sealed chloroplasts seems to be lowest in preparations containing the largest proportion of Class A chloroplasts. Assays for intactness based on the ability of Class C chloroplasts to utilize ferricyanide as a Hill oxidant are quick and convenient but do not distinguish between Class A and re-sealed chloroplasts. If it is assumed that there is an inverse linear relationship between percentage intactness and ability to react with ferricyanide, such assays over-estimate the proportion of intact chloroplasts and, therefore, underestimate their photosynthetic activity and protein content when these are expressed on a chlorophyll basis.
413 citations
TL;DR: It is revealed that distinct strategies for growth at low and high irradiance underlie the discontinuous response of Arabidopsis thaliana during growth over a broad range of irradiance.
Abstract: The capacity for photosynthetic acclimation in Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. cv. Landsberg erecta was assessed during growth over a broad range of irradiance. Discontinuities in the response to growth irradiance were revealed for the light- and CO2-saturated rate of photosynthesis (Pmax) and the ratio of chlorophyll a to chlorophyll b (Chl a/b). Three separate phases in the response of Pmax and Chl a/b to growth light were evident, with increases at low and high irradiance ranges and a plateau at intermediate irradiance. By measuring all chlorophyll-containing components of the thylakoid membrane that contribute to Chl a/b we reveal that distinct strategies for growth at low and high irradiance underlie the discontinuous response. These strategies include, in addition to changes in the major light-harvesting complexes of photosystem II (LHCII), large shifts in the amounts of both reaction centres as well as significant changes in the levels of minor LHCII and LHCI components.
413 citations
411 citations
TL;DR: The action spectrum of the photoinhibition of dye reduction by chloroplasts and lyophylized Anacystis cells indicated that the damage caused by visible light is due to quanta absorbed by photosystem II, however, since system I might not be involved in dye reduction, the spectra may reflect only damage to Photosystem II.
Abstract: A study was made of photoinhibition of spinach chloroplast reactions. The kinetics and spectral characteristics of the photoinhibition over a range between 230 and 700 mmu have been examined. The decline of activity due to preillumination was independent of wavelength, and dependent upon the number of quanta applied, not upon the rate of application. The effectiveness spectra of photoinhibition indicate that active ultraviolet light is absorbed by a pigment which is not a normal light absorber for photosynthesis and acts with a high quantum efficiency (> 0.1) for photoinhibition.Active visible light is absorbed by the pigments which sensitize photosynthesis (chlorophyll, carotenoids). A very low quantum efficiency (about 10(-4)) was observed for the photoinhibition with visible light.The action spectrum of the photoinhibition of dye reduction by chloroplasts and lyophylized Anacystis cells indicated that the damage caused by visible light is due to quanta absorbed by photosystem II. However, since system I might not be involved in dye reduction, the spectra may reflect only damage to photosystem II.
410 citations