Question

In Photosynthesis, what do you think would happen if no hydrogen ion gradient could be established between the inside of the thylakoid (thylakoid lumen) and the outside of the thylakoid. How would this affect ATP production? *minimum 250 words

Answer 1

In photosynthesis ATP is produced through photophosphorylation unlike oxidative phosphorylation in mitochandria. This photophosphorylation occurs on the thylokoid membrane which are either in the form of stacks or free in the cytosol of plant cells. The electrons are taken from the water by pholysis which transport through ETC and during this transport which is from high energy complex to lower energy complex release energy which is used to create electrochemical gradient that is hydrogen ion gradient between thylokoid lumen and stroma. When these hydrogen ions fall back from lumen (higher con) to stroma (lower con), these ions fall throgh Fo particle and rotate F1 particle and this rotation produces energy which is used to cause phosphrylation of ADP to produce ATP. This process is called photophosphorylation. This all occurs by the gradient of hydrogen ions between lumen and stroma if this gradient is created no ATP formation will occur. There are also some uncouplers which uncouple electrin transport and phosphorylation. In that case heat instead of ATP energy is produced. In conclusion this gradient is fundamental in generating ATP through photophosphorylatio.