Chapter 10: Photosynthesis Flashcards
Range of a pigment’s ability to absorb various wavelengths of light; also a graph of such a range
Absorption Spectrum
A graph that profiles the relative effectiveness of different wavelengths of radiation in driving a particular process
Action Spectrum
An organism that obtains organic food molecules without eating other organisms derived from other organisms. Use energy from the sun or from oxidation of inorganic substances to make organic molecules from inorganic ones
Autotroph
The 2nd of two major stages in photosynthesis, involving fixations of atmospheric carbon dioxide and reduction of the fixed carbon into carbohydrate
Calvin Cycle
Initial incorporation of carbon from carbon dioxide into an organic compound by an autotrophic organism
Carbon Fixation
A green pigment located in membranes within the chloroplasts of plants and algae and in the membranes of certain prokaryotes. Chlorophyll a participates directly in the light reactions, which convert solar energy to chemical energy.
Chlorophyll
Chloroplast
A route of electron flow during the light reactions of photosynthesis that involves only one photosystem and that produces ATP but not NADPH or oxygen
Cyclic Electron Flow
Entire spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, ranging in wavelength from less than a nanometer to more than a kilometer
Electromagnetic Spectrum
A 3 carbon carbohydrate that is the direct product of the Calvin cycle; also an intermediate in glycolysis
Glyceraldehyde 3‐Phosphate (G3P)
Organisms that obtain organic food molecules by eating other organisms or substances derived from them
Heterotroph
1st two stages in photosynthesis. These reactions, which occur on the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast or on membranes of certain prokaryotes, convert solar energy to the chemical energy of ATP and NADPH, releasing oxygen in the process
Light Reactions
Complex of proteins associated with pigment molecules that captures light energy and transfers it to reaction-center pigments in a photosystem
Light‐Harvesting Complex
Linear Electron Flow
The oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, an electron carrier that can accept electrons, becoming NADPH. NADPH temporarily stores energized electrons produced during the light reactions.
NADP+
The reduced form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, temporarily stores energized electrons produced during the light reactions. NADPH acts as a “reducing power” that can be passed along to an electron acceptor, reducing it.
NADPH
Organisms that use light as a source of energy to synthesize organic substances
Photoautotroph
Process of generating ATP from ADP and phosphate by means of chemiosmosis, using a proton-motive force generated across the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast or the membrane of certain prokaryotes during the light reactions of photosynthesis
Photophosphorylation
Photorespiration
The conversion of light energy to chemical energy that is stored in sugars or other organic compounds; occurs in plants, algae, and certain prokaryotes
Photosynthesis
Light capturing unit located in the thylakoid membrane of the chloroplast or in the membrane of some prokaryotes, consisting of a reaction center complex surrounded by numerous light harvesting complexes. Two types of photosystems (I OR II), they absorb light best at different wavelengths
Photosystem
One of two light capturing units in a chloroplast’s thylakoid membrane or in the membrane of some prokaryotes; has 2 molecules of P680 chlorophyll a at its reaction center
Photosystem II (PS II)
Light capturing unit in a chloroplast’s thylakoid membrane or in the membrane of some prokaryotes; has 2 molecules of P700 chlorophyll a at its reaction center
Photosystem I (PS I)
Rubisco
In thylakoid membrane of a chloroplast or in the membrane of some prokaryotes, a specialized molecule that shares the reaction-center complex with a pair of chlorophyll molecules and that accepts an electron from them
Primary Electron Acceptor
An instrument that measures the proportions of light of different wavelengths absorbed and transmitted by a pigment solution
Spectrophotometer
Stroma
Thylakoid
Portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be detected as various colors by the human eye, ranging in wavelength from about 380 nm
Visible Light
Distance between crest of waves, such as those of the electromagnetic spectrum
Wavelength
