Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Photosynthesis: Oxygenic Process

Description

This lecture covers the process of oxygenic photosynthesis, where organisms capture energy from sunlight to produce oxygen. It discusses the pigments and photosynthetic membranes involved, the importance of light wavelength, and the electron flow via the Z scheme. The lecture also explores oxygenic phototrophs like cyanobacteria, major primary producers in oceans and freshwater.

Official source

Ontological neighbourhood

Biology

Cell biology: Photosynthesis

Related concepts (32)

Photosynthesis

Photosynthesis (ˌfoʊtəˈsɪnθəsɪs ) is a biological process used by many cellular organisms to convert light energy into chemical energy, which is stored in organic compounds that can later be metabolized through cellular respiration to fuel the organism's activities. The term usually refers to oxygenic photosynthesis, where oxygen is produced as a byproduct, and some of the chemical energy produced is stored in carbohydrate molecules such as sugars, starch and cellulose, which are synthesized from endergonic reaction of carbon dioxide with water.

Photosynthetic reaction centre

A photosynthetic reaction center is a complex of several proteins, pigments and other co-factors that together execute the primary energy conversion reactions of photosynthesis. Molecular excitations, either originating directly from sunlight or transferred as excitation energy via light-harvesting antenna systems, give rise to electron transfer reactions along the path of a series of protein-bound co-factors. These co-factors are light-absorbing molecules (also named chromophores or pigments) such as chlorophyll and pheophytin, as well as quinones.

Oxygen evolution

Oxygen evolution is the process of generating molecular oxygen (O2) by a chemical reaction, usually from water. Oxygen evolution from water is effected by oxygenic photosynthesis, electrolysis of water, and thermal decomposition of various oxides. The biological process supports aerobic life. When relatively pure oxygen is required industrially, it is isolated by distilling liquefied air. Oxygen evolving complex Photosynthetic oxygen evolution is the fundamental process by which oxygen is generated in the earth's biosphere.

Anoxygenic photosynthesis

Anoxygenic photosynthesis is a special form of photosynthesis used by some bacteria and archaea, which differs from the better known oxygenic photosynthesis in plants in the reductant used (e.g. hydrogen sulfide instead of water) and the byproduct generated (e.g. elemental sulfur instead of molecular oxygen). Several groups of bacteria can conduct anoxygenic photosynthesis: green sulfur bacteria (GSB), red and green filamentous phototrophs (FAPs e.g. Chloroflexia), purple bacteria, acidobacteriota, and heliobacteria.

Thylakoid

Thylakoids are membrane-bound compartments inside chloroplasts and cyanobacteria. They are the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Thylakoids consist of a thylakoid membrane surrounding a thylakoid lumen. Chloroplast thylakoids frequently form stacks of disks referred to as grana (singular: granum). Grana are connected by intergranal or stromal thylakoids, which join granum stacks together as a single functional compartment. In thylakoid membranes, chlorophyll pigments are found in packets called quantasomes.

Related lectures (31)

Photosynthesis: Pigments and Energy Transfer in Microorganisms

Explores photosynthesis in microorganisms, focusing on pigments and energy transfer mechanisms.

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

Explains oxygenic photosynthesis, characteristics of phototrophs, pigments, and cyanobacteria's role as primary producers.

Photosynthesis: An Overview

Provides an overview of photosynthesis, including its evolution and the characteristics of different phototrophs.

Photosynthesis: Energy Conversion in Chloroplasts

Explores photosynthesis, the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy by chloroplasts.

Photosynthesis: Anoxygenic & Oxygenic