Biology Photosynthesis definitions
autotroph
organism that is able to capture energy from sunlight or chemicals and use it to produce its own food from inorganic compounds; also called a primary consumer
ATP synthase
Cluster of proteins than span the cell membrane and allow hydrogen ions (H+) to pass through it
stroma
Fluid portion of the chloroplast; outside of the thylakoids
heterotroph
Organism that obtains food by consuming other living things, also called consumer
thylakoid
Sac-like photosynthetic membranes found in chloroplast
light-independent reaction
Set of reactions in photosynthesis that do not require light
ATP
What cells use to store and release energy
NADP+
carrier molecule that transfers high energy electrons from chlorophyll to other molecules
photosystem
cluster of chlorophyll and proteins found in thylakoids
Calvin cycle
light independent reactions of photosynthesis in which energy from ATP and NADPH is used to build high energy compounds such as sugar
pigment
light-absorbing molecule used by plants to gather the sun's energy
chlorophyll
principal pigment of plants and other photosynthetic organism
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
electron transport chain
series of electron carrier proteins that shuttle high-energy electrons during ATP-generating reactions
light-dependent reaction
set of reactions in photosynthesis that use energy from light to produce ATP and NADPH