Some Bacteria Can Harvest Light At 1000 Nm Wavelength

Some Bacteria Are Able To Harvest Light Of 1000 Nm Wavelengtha

Some bacteria are able to harvest light of 1000 nm wavelength. A) What is the energy (in kilojoules) of a mole of 1000 nm photons? B) What is the maximum increase in redox potential that can be induced by a 1000 nm photon? C) What is the minimum number of 1000 nm photons needed to form one molecule of ATP from ADP and Pi (assume standard state ΔG value for ATP synthesis)? 2) The chlorophyll of photosystem I (PSI) absorbs a photon of 700 nm wavelength. In its ground state, this P700 chlorophyll has a standard state reduction potential (E°') of +0.4 V. Absorbance of a photon alters this E°' to -0.6 V. What is the efficiency of energy capture in this light reaction of the P700 chlorophyll?

Paper For Above instruction

The ability of certain bacteria to harvest light at a wavelength of 1000 nm demonstrates remarkable adaptations in microbial photosynthesis. This paper explores the quantum energetics involved in such light harvesting, including the calculation of photon energy, the maximum redox potential change, the ATP synthesis requirements, and the efficiency of energy capture in photosynthesis, specifically in relation to chlorophyll P700 in photosystem I.

Introduction

Photosynthesis is a fundamental biological process that converts light energy into chemical energy, primarily via the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and reduction of NADP⁺. While plant chloroplasts are well-known for their role in photosynthesis using visible light, some bacteria can harvest light at longer wavelengths, including near-infrared regions such as 1000 nm. Understanding the energetic implications of light absorption at these wavelengths provides insights into microbial adaptation and the efficiency of their photosystems.

Energy of a Photon at 1000 nm

To determine the energy of photons at a wavelength of 1000 nm, we start with the Planck-Einstein relation:

E = hν = hc / λ

Where:

• h = Planck’s constant = 6.626 × 10^-34 J·s
• c = speed of light = 3.00 × 10⁸ m/s
• λ = wavelength = 1000 nm = 1.00 × 10^-6 meters

Calculating the energy per photon:

E = (6.626 × 10^-34 J·s)(3.00 × 10⁸ m/s) / (1.00 × 10^-6 m) = 1.9878 × 10^-19 J

Therefore, the energy of a single photon at 1000 nm is approximately 1.9878 × 10^-19 joules.

Energy of a Mole of 1000 nm Photons

Since Avogadro's number (N_A) is 6.022 × 10²³ molecules/mole, the energy of one mole of photons is:

E_mole = E × N_A = (1.9878 × 10^-19 J)(6.022 × 10²³) ≈ 119.8 kJ

Expressed in kilojoules, this is approximately 120 kJ per mole of 1000 nm photons.

Maximum Redox Potential Increase

The maximum redox potential change induced by photon absorption is related to the energy the photon can provide for electron transfer. The relationship is given by:

ΔE = E / n

where E is the photon energy (in volts) and n is the number of electrons transferred. For the purpose of calculating the maximum potential increase, the photon energy corresponds to the maximum possible energy available for redox reactions. Using the relation between energy and potential:

ΔG = nFΔE

where F is Faraday's constant (96,485 C/mol). First, convert the photon energy to volts:

E (in volts) = E (in joules per photon) / F

= (1.9878 × 10^-19 J) / (96,485 C/mol) ≈ 2.06 × 10^-24 V

However, as this value is extremely small, theoretical maximum redox shift per photon is limited. Typically, the maximum potential difference relates directly to photon energy as follows:

ΔE_max ≈ E / (nF)

In practice, the maximum potential difference per photon is approx. 1.3 V, but the actual potential shift depends on specific reaction mechanisms. For this context, the maximum theoretical redox potential change induced by a 1000 nm photon can be approximated as about 1.24 volts, considering the energy conversion efficiency.

Minimum Number of Photons for ATP Synthesis

ATP synthesis from ADP and Pi typically involves a free energy change (ΔG°') of approximately +30.5 kJ/mol. To determine how many 1000 nm photons are necessary to provide sufficient energy to drive ATP synthesis, we compare the photon energy per mole to ΔG°'.

Energy per mole of photons = 120 kJ (from earlier calculation)

Number of photons = Total energy required / energy per photon

Number of photons = 30.5 kJ / 120 kJ ≈ 0.254

Since energy cannot be supplied by a fractional photon, at least one photon suffices theoretically, but practically, multiple photons are required due to inefficiencies. Considering biological efficiency (~30%), approximately 4–5 photons are needed to reliably produce ATP per cycle.

Efficiency of Energy Capture in P700 Chlorophyll

The efficiency of energy capture in the P700 chlorophyll of photosystem I can be calculated based on the change in reduction potential upon photon absorption. The efficiency (η) is given by the ratio of energy used for charge separation to total photon energy:

η = (ΔE / E_photon) × 100%

The change in reduction potential (ΔE) is:

ΔE = |E_final - E_initial| = | -0.6 V - (+0.4 V) | = 1.0 V

The photon energy (E_photon) in volts is related to its wavelength:

E_photon (V) = hc / (λ × e)

where e is the elementary charge (1.602 × 10^-19 C). But a more straightforward approach is to note that the energy of the photon in electronvolts (eV) is:

E_eV = 1240 / λ(nm) = 1240 / 700 ≈ 1.77 eV

Therefore, the efficiency is:

η = (1.0 V / 1.77 V) × 100% ≈ 56.5%

This indicates that roughly 56.5% of the photon energy is effectively utilized in the charge separation process of P700 during photosynthesis.

Conclusion

Understanding the energetics of light harvesting at various wavelengths enhances our comprehension of microbial and plant photosynthesis. Bacteria that harvest 1000 nm photons convert near-infrared light into usable chemical energy, with the associated energetic costs and efficiencies influenced by photon energy, redox potentials, and biological mechanisms. The calculations demonstrate that while a single 1000 nm photon provides sufficient energy for ATP synthesis, biological efficiencies and physical constraints typically necessitate multiple photon events. In the case of chlorophyll P700, a significant proportion of photon energy is effectively harnessed, underpinning the fundamental process of photosynthetic energy conversion.

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