Photosynthesis Overview and Process

The fluid-filled space surrounding the thylakoid membrane within a chloroplast.

A flattened sac-like membrane within a chloroplast, where light-dependent reactions occur.

A stack of thylakoids within a chloroplast.

The space inside the thylakoid membrane.

The side of the thylakoid membrane where the stroma is located.

The side of the thylakoid membrane where the inner thylakoid space is located.

The process of converting ADP and inorganic phosphate into ATP, using energy.

The process of converting light energy into chemical energy (ATP and NADPH) within the thylakoid membrane.

A high-energy molecule used by cells to power metabolic processes.

A lower-energy molecule that can be converted back into ATP by adding a phosphate group.

The process by which plants convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose.

The first stage of photosynthesis where light energy is captured and used to produce ATP and NADPH.

The second stage of photosynthesis where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose using ATP and NADPH.

The primary reactant in the Calvin Cycle, providing the carbon necessary for glucose synthesis.

Light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll, driving the production of ATP and NADPH.

The rate of photosynthesis increases proportionally to light intensity until a plateau is reached, where further increases in light intensity have no effect.

The light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis produce two energy-carrying molecules: ATP and NADPH. These molecules carry high-energy electrons and energy that are used in the Calvin cycle to synthesize sugars like glucose.

During the light-dependent reactions, water is split and oxygen is released as a byproduct. This oxygen is what we breathe!

Enzymes are biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions within living organisms by lowering activation energy. Without enzymes, many important reactions in our bodies would occur too slowly to sustain life.

The electron transport chain in photosynthesis involves the movement of electrons from photosystem II to photosystem I, using an organized chain of proteins embedded in the thylakoid membrane. This flow of electrons drives the production of ATP.

Carotenoids are pigments that absorb different wavelengths of light than chlorophyll. They act as accessory pigments, absorbing energy from wavelengths that chlorophyll doesn't absorb efficiently, thus increasing the efficiency of photosynthesis.

The rate of photosynthesis is influenced by various environmental factors. Temperature, water availability, and light intensity affect the efficiency of the photosynthetic process.

Glucose is a simple sugar that stores a large amount of energy compared to ATP, making it a highly efficient energy storage molecule for organisms.

Organisms obtain the energy required to regenerate ATP from food sources like glucose, breaking down the bonds in these molecules to release energy.

The interconnected structures connecting grana in a chloroplast; allowing for communication and flow.

Pigments that absorb light energy, other than chlorophyll.

A process that converts light energy into chemical energy stored in glucose.

Packets of energy from sunlight.

The primary pigment in plants that absorbs light energy, giving plants their green color.

The second stage of photosynthesis, where carbon dioxide is converted into glucose using the energy from ATP and NADPH.

The molecule used to store and transfer energy within cells.

The process of breaking the last phosphate bond in ATP, releasing energy for cellular processes.

The process of adding a phosphate group to ADP to create ATP.

The process of breaking down glucose to release energy in the form of ATP.

Water is also a vital reactant in photosynthesis, alongside carbon dioxide, used to produce organic macromolecules like glucose.

Autotrophs are organisms capable of producing their own food through photosynthesis. They are the base of many food chains.

Leaves are the primary sites for photosynthesis in plants, containing specialized cells and structures.

Stomata are tiny pores on the underside of leaves that allow gas exchange (CO2 in, O2 out) and water vapor loss.

Mesophyll cells are the primary cells within a leaf that contain chlorophyll and are the sites of photosynthesis.

Chloroplasts are organelles within mesophyll cells that contain chlorophyll and are the primary sites for photosynthesis.

Chloroplasts have two membranes, an outer selectively permeable membrane and an inner membrane that encloses the stroma and thylakoids.

Stroma is the thick, fluid-filled space within the inner membrane of a chloroplast where the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis occurs.