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Why is the Hill reaction important in the elucidation of the mechanism of

photosynthesis

Technical Report · March 2015

DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.1311.9525

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Eranga Jayashantha
University of Kelaniya
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 1. Why is the Hill reaction important in the elucidation of the mechanism of photosynthesis?

Hill Reaction of the Photosynthesis was found by Robert Hill (1939).He found that isolated chloroplasts
from plants can discharge oxygen (O2 ) when they are illuminated by sunlight (or by a light source same to
sunlight) in the prescence of suitable electron acceptor such as Ferricyanide. Dichlorophenolindophenol
(DCPIP) can be used to demonstrate the hill reaction in the laboratory. During this reaction ferricyanide is
reduced to ferrocyanide while H2O is oxidized into O2 .. By using this reaction, Robert Hill revealed some
valuable facts on Photosynthesis and these facts can be described well by this experiment.
Hill reaction confirms that Oxygen is dischared by a separate reaction from CO2 fixation . This Oxygen
discharging reaction needs solar energy to discharge oxygen. Therefore it can be described as Light
Dependant Reaction of photosynthesis. Chloroplasts are responsible for taken place this Oxygen emitting
reaction and Hill reaction further confirms that O2 emission reaction is only one step (or only partial
reaction) of photosynthesis which is happened before the carbon dioxide fixation step. So Oxygen evolving
can be happened without reduction of CO2 .
Hill reaction suggests that Light Dependent Reaction of photosynthesis is a result of a series of redox
reactions. There should be a suitable electron acceptor to occur the reaction. So plants have natural electron
acceptors to reduce water in to oxygen in order to remove oxygen. Other important fact is Hill reaction tells
that these natural electron acceptors can be substituted by artificial electron acceptors (such as DCPIP ) and
the oxygen evolving reaction will be occurred under the artificial electron acceptors also.
Another fact that can be described by using the Hill Reaction is , Evolved oxygen is coming from H2O not
from CO2 .
Hill reaction also explains that the first reaction of the photosynthesis is Light Dependant redox
reaction. An Electron Transport System (ETS) is used to gain the exited energy of electrons during a series
of oxidation and reduction reactions along the ETS. Electrons are travelled against a chemical potential
gradient by occurring the Chemiosmosis for photophosphorylation. Solar energy is converted into chemical
energy of reduced coenzymes (such as NADPH ) at the Light Dependent reaction while Oxygen is evolved
as a byproduct of the light d ependent step . All the above facts could be clearly described by the Hill
experiment.

Image : Schematic diagram of Hill Reaction

Image source : http://www.saburchill.com/IBbiology/chapters01/images/11010335.jpg

B.G.E.T. Jayashantha

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