Honors Bio Vocab Unit 4 - Photosynthesis

(ATP) Adenosine Triphosphate

Compound used by cells to store and release energy.

ATP Synthase

The enzyme that makes ATP by chemiosmosis. It allows protons to pass through the membrane using the kinetic energy to phosphorylate ADP making ATP.

Carotenoids

Natural pigments that are responsible for colors ranging from yellow, orange, and red, and are biosynthesized in all photosynthetic organisms.

Chlorophyll

Principal pigment of plants and other photosynthetic organisms.

Chloroplast

A type of membrane-bound organelle known as a plastid that conducts photosynthesis mostly in plant and algal cells.

Light Dependent

Set of reactions in photosynthesis that use energy from light to produce ATP and NADPH.

Light Independent (Calvin Cycle)

Set of reactions in photosynthesis that do not require light; energy from ATP and NADPH is used to build high-energy compounds such as sugar

NADP+

A coenzyme that functions as a universal electron carrier, accepting electrons and hydrogen atoms to form NADPH, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate.

Photosynthesis

The process by which plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to create oxygen and energy in the form of sugar(glucose).

Photosystem

A biochemical mechanism in plants by which chlorophyll absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.

Pigment

A natural colouring matter found in plant or animal cells or tissues. Absorbs certain colors and reflects others.

Stroma

The fluid-filled internal space of the chloroplasts which encircle the grana and the thylakoids.

Thylakoid

Disks inside the chloroplast that is the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.