Where do we get all our energy from and how? Not from the Middle East. Not via Tankers!

Each chloroplast has a double layered outer envelope. Inside each chloroplast there are numerous thylakoids, this is where starch (carbohydrate) is produced. Few starch granules are seen floating in the chloroplast below.

Figure C. Cross section of a chloroplast.

Adenosine Triphospahate (ATP).

ATP the energy currency or coin of the cell, transfers energy from chemical bonds to energy absorbing reactions within the cell. Structurally,

ATP consists of the adenosine nucleotides, ribose, sugar, adenine base, and phosphate group, PO4-2) plus two other phosphate groups.

Energy is stored in the covalent bond between phosphates, with the greatest amount of energy (approximately 7 kcal/mole) in the bond between the second and third phosphate groups. This covalent bond is known as a pyrophosphate bond.

The chemical reaction for the formation of ATP as:

Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) + inorganic Phosphate + energy produces Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The chemical formula for release of ATP energy is:

Adenosine Triphosphate produces Adenosine diphosphate + energy + inorganic Phosphate.

TYPES OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS:

Three different types, these are C3, C4, and CAM.

1. C3 photosynthesis is the usual photosynthesis that occurs in most plants.
2. C4 and CAM photosynthesis are both adaptations to dry conditions because these result in more efficient better water usage.
3. CAM plants can “idle,” saving precious energy and water during harsh weather conditions, and C4 plants can photosynthesize faster under the desert’s high heat and light conditions than C3 plants. This occurs because CAM plants use an extra biochemical pathway and special anatomy to reduce photorespiration.

The biochemical structure is as given below. Please not the three phosphate valencies. Adenosine exists as adenosine monophosphate, diphosphate, and trihosphate. ATP has the most amount of energy and is most easily usable. The structures of AMP and ADP can be seen at Cellular Respiration (Metaboism) for Nurses here.

Diagramatic representation of the Chemical Structure of Adenosine monophosphate.

Photophosphorylation is the chemical reaction of making ATP using a Proton gradient which is created by the Energy gathered from sunlight. This process of creating the Proton gradient resembles that of the electron transport chain of respiration. Since the production of this proton gradient is light dependent, hence the process is called photophosphorylation.

Diagram D. Diagrametic representation of Photophosphorylation. From www.whfreeman.com THE BASIC REACTION WHICH GIVES ALL ENERGY TO EVERYTHING ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH.

In photophosphorylation energy is trapped and stored in a form which is ultimately used by all plants and animals of this earth. The process of using up the energy occurs at cellular level and is called respiration.

Respiration: It is defined as the metabolic processes whereby living things obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs.

Another definition of respiration is a single complete act of breathing in and out; often represented in terms of breaths per minute, “eighteen respirations per minute” for human beings. Respiration is covered in more detail in my other publication entitled, “Cellular Respiration (Metabolism) for Nurses” by Shergill here.