Photosynthesis Flashcards
autotrophs
any organism that produces its own food from CO2 and other inorganic materials
photoautotrophs
autotrophs that use light as a source of energy to synthesize organic substances
light reactions
occur in the thylakoid membranes; Form ATP and energized electrons (NADPH); Produce O2 from water; requires light
carbon fixation
CO2 is attached to RuBP to form an unstable six carbon intermediate; the six carbon intermediate splits to form two 3-PGA
Calvin cycle
occurs in the stroma of chloroplasts; raw materials: CO2, ATP, and NADPH; Product: G3P
photophosphorylation
ATP synthase makes ATP as the H+ ions diffuse back to stroma
photosystem
a reaction center surrounded by a light-harvesting complex; a proton absorbed is transferred to the reaction center to excite an electron of ChI a to an elevated energy level; a primary electron acceptor accepts the light-excited electron and passes it to an electron transport chain.
reaction center
surrounded by a light-harvesting complex
stroma
thick fluid in the second compartment
chlorophyll a
absorbs blue-violet and red light
granum
the sites for chlorophyll traps solar energy
C3 plant
CO2 + RuBP → (2) 3-phosphoglycerate
thylakoid
stacked in the grana; chlorophyll is stored in the membranes
Which of the following are products of the light reactions of photosynthesis that are utilized in the Calvin cycle?
ATP and NADPH
During photosynthesis, visible light has enough energy to
excite electrons
