Chapter 9 Photosynthesis Vocabulary

ATP

Compound used by cells to store and release energy

Photosynthesis

Process used by plants and other autotrophs to capture light energy and use it to power chemical reactions that convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and energy-rich carbohydrates such as sugars and starches.

Pigment

Light-absorbing molecule used by plants to gather the sun’s energy

Chlorophyll

Principal pigment of plants and other photosynthetic organisms

Thylakoid

Saclike photosynthetic membranes found in chloroplasts

Stroma

Fluid portion of the chloroplast; outside the thylakoids

NADP+

Carrier molecule that transfers high-energy electrons from chlorophyll to other molecules

Light-dependent reaction

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

Light-independent reaction

Set of reactions in photosynthesis that do not require light; energy from ATP and NADPH is used to build high-energy compounds such as sugars; also called the Calvin cycle.

Photosystem

Cluster of chlorophyll and proteins found in the thylakoids

Electron Transport Chain

Series of electron carrier proteins that shuffle high energy electrons during ATP- generating reactions

ATP Synthase

An enzyme for the synthesis of ATP; consists of a cluster of proteins that span the cell membrane and allow hydrogen ions (H+) to pass

Calvin cycle

Light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis in which energy from ATP and NADPH is used to build high-energy compounds such a as sugar