Oct 2nd - Chloroplasts and photosynthesis

chloroplasts have three membranes and two spaces

• the stroma contains circular chloroplast genomes and is topologically equivalent to the mitochondrial matrix

• the thylakoid space is topologically equivalent to the mitochondrial intermembrane space

• chloroplasts function to perform photosynthesis & store lipid droplets & starch

reactions of chloroplasts are similar to those of mitochondria (order reversed)

chloroplasts are not the defining feature of plants — cellulose-containing cell walls

• only photosynthetic plant tissues maintain chloroplasts

  • root cells and cells near the stem lack chloroplasts

• all plant cells have mitochondria & plants cells that do not have chloroplasts consume products by plants cell that do have chloroplasts

light reactions generate activated carriers & dark reactions produce metabolites