BIOL 112 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Phycocyanin, Phycoerythrin, Action Spectrum

• School: McGill University
• Department: Biology
• Course: BIOL 112
• Professor: Frieder Schoeck

Document Summary

Nad and nadp have same properties and occur in plants and animals, but are made by separate pathways and independently regulated. Nadp used only for anabolic pathways, excess of nadph drives biosynthetic reactions. Nad exclusively for catabolic pathways, excess of nad to accelerate oxidation of sugars. Photosynthesis takes places in same narrow range of wavelengths as vision. Has exactly right amount of energy to appropriately excite electrons. X-rays to powerful, would ionize molecule instead of promoted electron. Ir energy too low, only results in vibrational (heat) energy. Alternating single and double bonds in beta carotene and chlorophyll result in delocalized electrons, excited electron has potential energy. Absorption spectrum: chlorophylls absorb blue and red light and transmit green light. Carotenoids a bsorb blue and green light and transmit yellow, orange, red. Action spectrum: plants most actively produce oxygen at same peaks as absorption spectrum. Solar spectrum mostly in visible wavelength range (allowed for evolution of life)