2023 Faculty Courses School of Life Science and Technology Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
Photosynthesis and photobiology
- Academic unit or major
- Undergraduate major in Life Science and Technology
- Instructor(s)
- Shinji Masuda / Kan Tanaka / Mie Shimojima / Yuriko Osakabe / Keisuke Yoshida
- Class Format
- Lecture (Face-to-face)
- Media-enhanced courses
- -
- Day of week/Period
(Classrooms) - 3-4 Tue (M-B45(H105)) / 3-4 Fri (M-B45(H105))
- Class
- -
- Course Code
- LST.A361
- Number of credits
- 200
- Course offered
- 2023
- Offered quarter
- 2Q
- Syllabus updated
- Jul 8, 2025
- Language
- Japanese
Syllabus
Course overview and goals
This course focuses on basics for photosynthesis and photochemistry and related physical, chemical and biological subjects. Specifically, environmental sensing mechanisms of photosynthetic organisms, such as plant and algae, will be studied. The course enables students to understand how photosynthesis was established and arranged during the course of evolution of the earth and life.
The topics will include energy conversion mechanisms by photosynthesis, evolution of photosynthesis and photosynthetic organisms, molecular structure of photosynthetic apparatus, structure of plant cells and photosynthetic membranes, and regulation of photosynthesis. Students will experience how photosynthesis is important on the life on the earth.
Course description and aims
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) To explain how photosynthesis sustains life on the earth
2) To explain the molecular mechanisms of photosynthesis
3) To explain how photosynthesis is regulated depend on environmental changes
4) To explain how photosynthesis is established.
5) To comment on the current progresses in artificial photosynthesis
Keywords
Photosynthesis, Photobiology, Spectroscopy, Biophysics, Electron transfer, Cell energetics, Protein complexes, Artificial photosynthesis
Competencies
- Specialist skills
- Intercultural skills
- Communication skills
- Critical thinking skills
- Practical and/or problem-solving skills
Class flow
This course will be organized by five lecturers on site.
Course schedule/Objectives
| Course schedule | Objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Class 1 | What is photosynthesis (Masuda) | Understanding of basics on photosynthesis |
| Class 2 | Properties of photopigments required for photosynthesis (Masuda) | Understand molecular properties of pigments used for photosynthesis |
| Class 3 | Photosynthetic light reaction 1 (Yoshida) | Understand function of photosynthetic apparatus |
| Class 4 | Photosynthetic light reaction 2 (Yoshida) | Understand mechanism of photosynthetic electron transfer |
| Class 5 | Regulation of ATP synthesis and chloroplast movement (Yoshida) | Understand mechanism and regulation of light-dependent ATP synthesis |
| Class 6 | Regulation of chloroplast function (Shimojima) | Regulation of plastidial protein, lipid and pigment synthesis |
| Class 7 | Structure of photosynthetic cells (Tanaka) | Understand cells structure for performing photosynthesis |
| Class 8 | Photosynthetic assimilatory reaction (Tanaka) | Understand mechanism of carbon fixation |
| Class 9 | Regulation of photosynthetic assimilatory reaction (Tanaka) | Understand mechanisms for nitrogen-related regulation |
| Class 10 | Regulation of photosynthetic gene expression (Tanaka) | Understand regulatory system for controlling gene expression and chloroplast development |
| Class 11 | Regulation of photosynthetic light reaction in plants (Masuda) | Understand mechanisms of non-photochemical quenching and state transition |
| Class 12 | Bioenergy and artificial photosynthesis (Shimojima) | Understand current progresses in artificial photosynthesis |
| Class 13 | New strategy for modifying plants for low carbon society 1 (Osakabe) | Understand current progresses in genome modification technology of plants |
| Class 14 | New strategy for modifying plants for low carbon society 2(Osakabe) | Understand current progresses in genome modification technology of plants |
Study advice (preparation and review)
To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.
Textbook(s)
Phosynthesis Education Team, The University of Tokyo; ISBN978-4-13-062214-1. (Japanese)
Reference books, course materials, etc.
Kimiyuki Sato (ed): Photosynthesis. Asakura-Shoten; ISBN 4-254-17657-0 C 3345. (Japanese) The degree of understanding of basic knowledge and applied research on photosynthesis is evaluated by the results of a final test that will be held in a classroom (not by online) after finishing all classes. If a small quiz is given in each class, it will also be included in the evaluation. None
Robert E. Blankenship: Evaluation methods and criteria
Related courses
Prerequisites