Energy Transfer - Photosynthesis: Key Terms Flashcards
NADP
A molecule that carries electrons produced in the light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis
Oxidation
Chemical reaction involving the loss of electrons
Oxidation-reduction
Chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred from one substance to another substance
Reduction
Chemical process involving the gain of electrons
Stroma
Fluid-filled matrix of a chloroplast where the light-independent reaction of photosynthesis takes place
Thylakoid
Series of flattened membranous sacs in a chloroplast that contain chlorophyll and the associated molecules needed for the light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis
Metabolism
The chemical processes that occur within a living organism in order to maintain life
Photolysis
Light energy splits 2 water molecules into 4 electrons, 4 hydrogen ions (protons) and an oxygen molecule (light-dependent reaction). These electrons replace the electrons lost from a chlorophyll molecule when light strikes it.
Coenzyme
A non-protein compound that is necessary for the functioning of an enzyme
Chloroplasts
The cellular organelles where photosynthesis takes place
Chlorophyll
Photosynthetic pigment inside thylakoids which absorbs light energy
Light-dependent reaction
Stage of photosynthesis in which light energy is required to produce ATP and reduced NADP
Photoionisation
Process by which a chlorophyll molecule becomes ionised
Proton pumps
A protein which actively transports protons into the thylakoid using energy from electrons from chlorophyll
Electron transfer chain
How electrons are passed along a number of electron carriers in a series of oxidation-reduction reactions
Chemiosmotic theory
Mechanism by which ATP is produced in the light-dependent stage of photosynthesis
ATP synthase
An enzyme which is embedded in the thylakoid membrane through which protons pass through and cause changes to the structure of the enzyme which then catalyses the combination of ADP with inorganic phosphate to form ATP
Light-independent reaction
Stage of photosynthesis which does not require light energy directly, but does need the products of the light dependent reaction to reduce CO2 and form carbohydrate
Calvin cycle
A biochemical pathway (part of the light-independent reaction) where CO2 is reduced to form carbohydrate
Ribulose Bisphosphate (RuBP)
A 5 carbon sugar (in the Calvin cycle) which reacts with carbon dioxide in the stroma to produce two molecules of GP
Glycerate 3 phosphate (GP)
A 3 carbon acid (in the Calvin cycle) which reduced NADP is used to reduce to TP using energy supplied by ATP
Triose phosphate
A 3 carbon sugar (in the Calvin cycle) which can be converted to organic substances that the plant requires such as starch, cellulose, lipids, glucose, amino acids and nucleotides, but most are used to regenerate ribulose biphosphate using ATP from the light-dependent reaction
