Photobiologyof

Cyanobacteria

Scott P. Milroy, Ph.D.USM Department of Marine Science

5-7 November 2012

Pioneering Mars:Turning the Red Planet Green

BAKERST STAN

Pioneering Mars The Basic Chemistry of Photosynthesis

Organisms which can make their own food are called “autotrophs” or “producers” – these undergo photosynthesis (and respiration).

The energy needed for this reaction is harvested from light, absorbed by special photopigments (chief among them is chlorophyll-a)

The energy needed for this reaction is harvested from light, absorbed by special photopigments (chief among them is chlorophyll-a)

Organisms which can make their own food are called “autotrophs” or “producers” – these undergo photosynthesis (and respiration).

Pioneering Mars The Basic Chemistry of Respiration

Organisms which must ingest their food are called “heterotrophs” or “consumers” – these undergo cellular respiration only.

The energy produced from this reaction is stored as ATP, which is the universal energy molecule used to fuel ALL cellular processes (metabolism & LIFE)! +ATP

The energy produced from this reaction is stored as ATP, which is the universal energy molecule used to fuel ALL cellular processes (metabolism & LIFE)!

Organisms which must ingest their food are called “heterotrophs” or “consumers” – these undergo cellular respiration only.

+ATP

Pioneering Mars The Basic Chemistry of Life

COMPLIMENTARY

+ATP

Pioneering Mars Elements of Sugar: C, H, O

COMPLIMENTARY

Sugars (also known as “carbohydrates”) can only be made naturally from photosynthesis and only require C, H, O (from CO2 & H2O)

Sugars can be stored as an energy reserve, or they can be used in cellular respiration to make ATP

ATP can then be used to power other cellular processes, to make other necessary molecules (like lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids)…

+ATP

Pioneering Mars Elements of Lipid: C, H, O

COMPLIMENTARY

Lipids (fats, oils, and waxes) can be made within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars)

+ATP

Pioneering Mars Elements of Protein: C, H, O, N

COMPLIMENTARY

Lipids (fats, oils, and waxes) can be made within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars)

Proteins can be made by linking amino acids together within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars) and N (from NO3

-, NH4+, and sometimes N2)

Lipids (fats, oils, and waxes) can be made within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars)

Lipids (fats, oils, and waxes) can be made within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars)

Proteins can be made by linking amino acids together within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars) and N (from NO3

-, NH4+, and sometimes N2)

Proteins can be made by linking amino acids together within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars) and N (from NO3

-, NH4+, and sometimes N2)

+ATP

Pioneering Mars Elements of Nucleic Acid: C, H, O, N, P

COMPLIMENTARY

Nucleic Acids are linked together to make genetic material (RNA & DNA) using ATP for energy and C, H, O, N and P (from PO4

3-)

Proteins can be made by linking amino acids together within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars) and N (from NO3

-, NH4+, and sometimes N2)

Lipids (fats, oils, and waxes) can be made within the cell using ATP for energy and C, H, O (from respired sugars)

+ATP

Pioneering Mars The Chemical Stockroom for Life

COMPLIMENTARY

Nucleic Acids are linked together to make genetic material (RNA & DNA) using ATP for energy and C, H, O, N and P (from PO4

3-)!?

+ATP

Pioneering Mars The Chemical Stockroom for Life

COMPLIMENTARY

!?

+ATP

Pioneering Mars The Chemical Stockroom for Life

COMPLIMENTARY

?

Pioneering Mars The Guts of Photosynthesis

Pioneering Mars Cyanobacteria Photopigments

Pioneering Mars Cyanobacteria Production

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