BIO1011: WK 5 + 6 Powering Life

Photoautotrophs

Organisms that harness solar energy to drive the synthesis of organic carbon compounds from inorganic carbon compounds

Redox Reactions

Type of chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred from one reactant to another

Thylakoid

Highly folded membrane within chloroplasts where the light-dependant phase of photosynthesis occurs and encloses a space called lumen

Grana

Interlinked stacks of thylakoids in chloroplasts

Stroma

Region that surrounds thylakoid

Photosystems

Protein-pigment complex allowing absorption of light energy to drive redox reactions

Chlorophyll

Light-absorbing pigment contained in photosynthetic membranes of eukaryotes and cyanobacteria

Accessory Pigments

Light-absoring pigment in photosynthetic membrane

Photosynthetic Electron Transport Chain

Series of redox reactions where light energy is absorbed by chlorophyll to power the movement of electrons and phosphorylation

NADPH

Electron carrier in biochemical reactions

Phosphorylation

Process by which energy from sunlight drives movement of electrons along the ETC to synthesise ATP

Calvin Cycle

Process where carbon dioxide is reduced to synthesise carbohydrates with ATP and NADPH as energy sources