UNIT 2: Metabolic Processes
Chapter 5: Photosynthesis: The Energy of Life pg. 210 - 240
5.6: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration: A Comparison
pg. 237 – 240
Aerobic cellular respiration and photosynthesis are two main chemical
processes that are essential to most of the life on Earth.
These reactions are complementary, as the products of one reaction are the
reactants of the other reaction.
Photosynthesis: occurs in the Chloroplast
sunlight energy + water + carbon dioxide → glucose + water + oxygen
Cellular Respiration: occurs in the cytosol and Mitochondrion
glucose + water + oxygen → ATP + water + carbon dioxide
Figure 1: Photosynthesis and Cellular Respiration, Photosynthesis and aerobic cellular
respiration are complementary – they use each other products. The NAD+ that are
reduced to NADH in the cytosol and during pyruvate oxidation are also regenerated by
the transfer of their hydrogens and high energy electrons to the electron transport chain.
For simplicity, H+, ADP, and Pi are not shown in this diagram. pg. 237
Chemical Steps and Reaction Processes
Both photosynthesis and cellular respiration have an electron transport chain,
and ATP synthase complexes. Photosynthesis uses NADP+ and NADPH to
carry electrons to produce glucose, while cellular respiration uses NAD+ and
NADH to produce ATP.
The chloroplast and the mitochondrion organelles are similar in structure.
Both have two membranes and fluid filed spaces, containing proton
gradients. The Calvin cycle (carbon fixation) and citric acid cycle, (carbon
releasing) are complementary.
Both the chloroplast and mitochondrion have their own DNA (replicate their
DNA) and reproduce on their own.
Figure 2: Comparing Chloroplast and Mitochondrion, Comparison of Chemiosmosis in
mitochondria and in chloroplasts, a) In mitochondria, the proton gradient is established
by pumping hydrogens out of an internal space (matrix), b) chloroplasts, the proton
gradient is established by pumping hydrogens into an internal space )the thylakoid
lumens). pg. 238
Comparison of Animals and Plants
Table 1: compare Plant and Animal, pg. 239
Chapter 5: Summary
pg. 244
Chapter 5: Self-Quiz
pg. 245
Chapter 5: Review
pg. 246 – 251
Unit 2: Self – Quiz
pg. 254 – 255
Unit 2: Review
pg. 256 - 263