AP BIOLOGY

PHOTOSYNTHESIS

C 4 PHOTOSYNTHESIS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
In the thylakoid membranes, what is the main role of the antenna pigment molecules?
A
To synthesise ATP from ADP and Pi.
B
To concentrate photons inside the stroma.
C
To pass electrons to ferredoxin and then NADPH
D
To harvest photons and transfer light energy to the reaction-center chlorophyll.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The role of the antenna pigments is to collect light energy from the sun and transfer it to reaction centers. In green plants and algae, these pigments are found in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.

Detailed explanation-2: -Another crucial function of antenna complexes is to serve as a safety valve for the thermal dissipation of excess absorbed light energy. The primary charge separations of photosynthesis occur simultaneously in the reaction center chlorophylls P700 (of PSI) and P680 (of PSII).

Detailed explanation-3: -A pigment with the primary function of capturing the energy from photons and transferring that energy to other pigments within the photosystem. Most chlorophyll molecules function as antennae, with relatively few of the hundreds of chlorophyll molecules carrying out photochemistry in the reaction center.

Detailed explanation-4: -A photon strikes the antenna pigments of photosystem II to initiate photosynthesis. The energy travels to the reaction center that contains chlorophyll a to the electron transport chain, which pumps hydrogen ions into the thylakoid interior. This action builds up a high concentration of ions.

Detailed explanation-5: -The carotenoids Their role as antenna pigments involves absorption of photons in the blue–green spectral region (450–570 nm) followed by efficient singlet–singlet energy transfer to neighbouring bchls.

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