To end our Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration unit, we were assigned a task to create a curious driving question that would delve deeper into the subject of either photosynthesis or cellular respiration. My partner, Emily, and I had the curious driving questions (CDQ): “What are some inhibitors/toxins that interfere with photosynthesis?” Below is the presentation we created that took a closer look into these inhibitors. The slides are also explained individually in an easy to read manner below that of the slideshow.
Slide 1: Photosynthesis Inhibitors & Toxins
Slide 2: The process of photosynthesis can both be sped up and slowed down to the variety of different complex functions that can be affected by different inhibitors/toxins.
Slide 3: Inhibitors, known as herbicides, inhibit the place within photosystem II of photosynthesis called the site of action. The list below consists of a few of the most common herbicides as well as their individual sites of actin, even if they differ from photosystem II. These herbicides are taken up in the soil and injure the leaves on both a physical and molecular level.
Slide 4: To inhibit photosynthesis, herbicides bind to the d1 proteins in PSII. These herbicides are unique in that they compete to bind to different binding sites so as to block enzymes from fitting into the shape of the active site. In doing so, they block off the leaf’s access to products which are vital to the continuing of steps within the process of photosynthesis. helping photosynthesis. Without the success of these steps, glucose cannot be produced as the final product which will then force the slow shut down of the plant’s processes through starvation.
Slide 5: Atrazine is one type of herbicide under the category of triazines. It is used in certain places where specific weeds must be removed, such as on golf courses. The herbicide, Atrazine, bonds to the D1 proteins through Van Der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds and interactions (hydrophobic)
AP Biology with Anna 
I enjoyed reading about this inhibitor and find this process fascinating. I liked the slide presentation and the explanation of those slides. I would appreciate if the grafts in each slide were clearer to read and the font larger (sorry my eyesight is not the best) so I could then read the info and then study the grafts. Having the grafts below the original explanation took some getting used to. My question is does weather play a factor in the effectiveness of herbicides and how they bond?
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