Cyclic Photophosphorylation and Regulation of the Light-Dependent Reactions
Students will explore ecological pyramids to understand the quantitative relationships between trophic levels in terms of energy, biomass, and numbers.
Key Questions
- Compare cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation in terms of the photosystems involved, the products generated, and the conditions under which each pathway predominates, explaining how cyclic flow produces ATP without net NADPH or O₂.
- Explain how the proton gradient generated across the thylakoid membrane during non-cyclic electron flow drives ATP synthesis by chloroplast ATP synthase, drawing explicit mechanistic parallels with oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondrial inner membrane.
- Evaluate the significance of the ability to shift between cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation in allowing the chloroplast to adjust the ATP to NADPH output ratio to match the variable demands of the Calvin cycle.
MOE Syllabus Outcomes
Suggested Methodologies
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