In your work as a biochemist, you synthesise a potential hypothetical herbicide.
ID: 146051 • Letter: I
Question
In your work as a biochemist, you synthesise a potential hypothetical herbicide. This herbicide is a weak hydrophobic acid that works as an un-coupler by dissipating the proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane.
a) Explain the effect that this herbicide would have on the i) light and ii) dark reactions of photosynthesis. Provide a description of which enzyme(s) and the reactions that they catalyze that would be affected in dark reactions
b) Would you expect that this herbicide would be toxic to animals? Justify your answer .
Importance of photosynthesis for life on this earth
You are assigned to a team of biologists who are philosophising about building a sustainable colony of Mars. Reflecting upon the importance of photosynthesis for life on earth, present an argument as to why it would be import to ultimately sustain a colony using photosynthetic organisms such as plants
Explanation / Answer
a. I. As, the herbicide is electrons transport dissipating, it means, they decrease the rate of formation of proton gradient across the thylakoid membrane. Hence, the rate of ATP synthesis is decreased in light reaction. Also, the herbicide is an uncoupler, it increases the thylakoid membrane permeability, hence, rate of ATP synthesis will decreased in light reaction. .
II. Since, dark reaction involve the use of ATP for formation of glucose from carbon dioxide and water and this ATP is come from light reaction. Hence, after the introduction of herbicide , dark reaction will also get decreased.
Enzymes which are affected in dark reaction include phosphoglycerokinase which convert 3 phosphoglyceric acid into 1,3 diphosohoglyceric acid. Next is phosphoribulose kinase which convert the ribulose 5 phosphate into ribulose 1,5 biphosphate.
b. Yes, this herbicide will be toxic to the animal as, this herbicide decreases the rate of photosynthesis in plants and hence, produced many unused chemicals that were left because of decreased photosynthesis in plants.
Photosynthesis is the process where plants use the energy of the sun and prepare food in the form of carbohydrates. Plants are the primary producer on this Earth. If plants, would not be in the Earth, all animals will die because of no food.
It is very important to import plants because they are the primary producer and food chain initiate from the producer.