Chapter 8 Flashcards
Photosynthesis
absorption spectrum
range of wavelengths of
electromagnetic radiation absorbed by a given substance
antenna protein
pigment molecule that directly absorbs
light and transfers the energy absorbed to other pigment
molecules
Calvin cycle
light-independent reactions of photosynthesis
that convert carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into
carbohydrates using the energy and reducing power of
ATP and NADPH
carbon fixation
process of converting inorganic CO2 gas
into organic compounds
carotenoid
photosynthetic pigment (yellow-orange-red)
that functions to dispose of excess energy
chemoautotroph
organism that can build organic
molecules using energy derived from inorganic chemicals
instead of sunlight
chlorophyll a
form of chlorophyll that absorbs violet-blue
and red light and consequently has a bluish-green color;
the only pigment molecule that performs the
photochemistry by getting excited and losing an electron
to the electron transport chain
chlorophyll b
accessory pigment that absorbs blue and redorange
light and consequently has a yellowish-green tint
chloroplast
organelle in which photosynthesis takes place
cytochrome complex
group of reversibly oxidizable and
reducible proteins that forms part of the electron
transport chain between photosystem II and
photosystem I
electromagnetic spectrum
range of all possible frequencies
of radiation
electron transport chain
group of proteins between PSII
and PSI that pass energized electrons and use the energy
released by the electrons to move hydrogen ions against
their concentration gradient into the thylakoid lumen
granum
stack of thylakoids located inside a chloroplast
heterotroph
organism that consumes organic substances
or other organisms for food
light harvesting complex
complex that passes energy from
sunlight to the reaction center in each photosystem; it consists of multiple antenna proteins that contain a
mixture of 300 to 400 chlorophyll a and b molecules as
well as other pigments like carotenoids
light-dependent reaction
first stage of photosynthesis
where certain wavelengths of the visible light are
absorbed to form two energy-carrying molecules (ATP
and NADPH)
light-independent reaction
second stage of
photosynthesis, through which carbon dioxide is used to
build carbohydrate molecules using energy from ATP and NADPH
mesophyll
middle layer of chlorophyll-rich cells in a leaf
P680
reaction center of photosystem II
P700
reaction center of photosystem I
photoact
ejection of an electron from a reaction center
using the energy of an absorbed photon
photoautotroph
organism capable of producing its own
organic compounds from sunlight
photon
distinct quantity or “packet” of light energy
photosystem
group of proteins, chlorophyll, and other pigments that are used in the light-dependent reactions
of photosynthesis to absorb light energy and convert it into chemical energy
photosystem I
integral pigment and protein complex in
thylakoid membranes that uses light energy to transport
electrons from plastocyanin to NADP+ (which becomes reduced to NADPH in the process)
photosystem II
integral protein and pigment complex in
thylakoid membranes that transports electrons from
water to the electron transport chain; oxygen is a product
of PSII
pigment
molecule that is capable of absorbing certain
wavelengths of light and reflecting others (which
accounts for its color)
primary electron acceptor
pigment or other organic
molecule in the reaction center that accepts an energized
electron from the reaction center