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.
About This Topic
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.
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