The Process of Photosynthesis Walkthrough - Google Gemini

overall equation for photosynthesis

6CO2+6H2O+Light Energy

Light Dependent Reactions Location

Thylakoid membranes

Calvin Cycle location

Stroma of Chloroplast

Photolysis

Splitting of water molecules by light energy in photosystem 2 to release oxygen, electrons, and protons

Photosystem 2

The first protein complex in the light dependent reactions where light energy excites electrons and water is split

Electron Transport Chain

A series of proteins that pass high energy electrons along, using their energy to pump protons into the thylakoid space

Photosystem 1

Protein complex the re-energizes using sunlight and passes them to NADP+ to form NADPH

ATP Synthase

An enzyme that uses the flow of protons down their concentration gradient to synthesize ATP from ADP and phosphate

NADPH

An electron carrier molecule produced in the light dependent reactions and used in the calvin cycle

Carbon Fixation

The first step of the calvin cycle where an enzyme attaches an inorganic CO2 to an organic 5 carbon molecule

RuBisCO

The primary enzyme responsible for catalyzing the attachment of CO2 to RuBP during carbon fixation

RuBP

A 5 carbon molecule that combines with CO2 at the start of the calvin cycle

G3P

3 carbon sugar building block produced by the calvin cycle that can be used to form glucose

Stomata

Microscopic pores on plant leaves that allow CO2 to enter and O2 to leave

Chlorophyll

The green pigment in chloroplasts that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis

Chemiosmosis

The movement of ions down their concentration gradient accross a membrane, powering ATP synthase

Light Independent Reactions

Does not directly require light but relies on the products of light dependent reactions

Byproduct of light dependent reactions

O2

Stroma

Dense fluid inside chloroplast surrounding the thylakoids. Where calvin cycle occurs

Thylakoid

A membrane bound compartment inside chloroplast where light dependent reactions occur

Reduction phase of Calvin Cycle

Where ATP and NADPH are used to convert 3 PGA molecules to G3P sugars

Regeneration phase of calvin cycle

where remaining 5/6 G3P made uses ATP to create RuBP so the cycle can continue