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