Photosynthesis Flashcards

Granum

• Composed of stacked thylakoids, serves as the site for capturing sunlight energy in chloroplasts.
• Plays a critical role in the light reactions of photosynthesis.

Lamellae

• Structures that connect grana, acting as bridges between them for efficient energy transfer.

Stroma

• Gel-like substance surrounding the thylakoids in chloroplasts.
• This region facilitates the enzymatic reactions necessary for the dark reactions of photosynthesis.

Thylakoid

• Disc-shaped sacs within the inner membrane of chloroplasts.
• Essential for converting light energy into chemical energy during photosynthesis.

Photosynthesis

• Process by which plants harness the sun's energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars.
• Fundamental for plant growth and energy production.

Glucose

• Chemical formula: C6H12O6.
• Serves as a primary quick source of energy for plants and many organisms.

Calvin Cycle

• A biochemical pathway where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose using energy from ATP and NADPH.
• Also known as the dark reactions, as it does not require light directly.

Chlorophyll

• The green pigment found in plants that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.
• Vital for the conversion of solar energy into chemical energy.

Light Reactions

• The initial phase of photosynthesis that requires light to occur.
• Begins with the absorption of light by chloroplasts to generate energy-rich molecules.

Dark Reactions

• Reactions in photosynthesis that do not require light but depend on products from light reactions.
• Utilize ATP and NADPH to form glucose.

Carbon Fixation

• The process of incorporating carbon from carbon dioxide into organic compounds.
• An essential step for autotrophic organisms in building macromolecules.

Autotroph

• Organisms that produce their own food using sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide.
• Include plants, algae, and some bacteria.

Chloroplast

• A specialized plastid that contains chlorophyll.
• The principal site of photosynthesis in plant cells.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

• A key energy carrier in all living cells, powers various cellular processes, including active transport.
• Can induce conformational changes in transport proteins to facilitate solute movement.

Sunlight

• The primary energy source for the photosynthetic process.
• Essential for driving the overall mechanism of photosynthesis in plants.