6.1- Chloroplast ANATOMY

Photosynthesis:

• biological process performed by photoautotrophs (plants, some bacteria and protists);

• captures energy from sunlight and converts it to chemical energy stored in the form of glucose.

Where does photosynthesis take place?

• chloroplasts of plants or protists.

Overall Reaction for photosynthesis

6CO2 + 6H2O → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Chloroplast

• organelle that is only found in eukaryotic photoautotrophs

• contains chlorophyll.

Chlorophyll

• light absorbing pigment with a porphyrin ring (contains central Mg atom)

• similar structure to hemoglobin.

Chloroplast Structure (external to internal):

1. Outer membrane.

2. Intermembrane space.

3. Inner membrane.

4. Stroma (cytoplasm of chloroplast).

a. Stroma lamellae: connect thylakoids together.

b. Thylakoids: membrane-bound flattened disks found in the stroma.

i. Thylakoid membrane: contain chlorophyll.

ii. Thylakoid lumen: space enclosed by thylakoid membrane

iii. Granum: stack of thylakoids

Stroma lamellae:

connect thylakoids together.

Thylakoids

membrane-bound flattened disks found in the stroma.

Thylakoid membrane

contain chlorophyll

Thylakoid lumen:

space enclosed by thylakoid membrane

Granum:

stack of thylakoids