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Overview of Photosynthesis definitions

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  • Photosynthesis
    Process in plants converting light energy into chemical energy, producing ATP, NADPH, and sugars while releasing oxygen.
  • Light-dependent reactions
    Stage using chlorophyll to absorb light, driving ATP and NADPH production through an electron transport chain.
  • Calvin cycle
    Series of reactions using ATP and NADPH to fix carbon dioxide into a 3-carbon sugar, enabling glucose synthesis.
  • Chlorophyll
    Pigment in plant cells responsible for absorbing light energy to initiate the process of ATP synthesis.
  • ATP
    Molecule generated during light-dependent reactions, serving as the main energy currency for cellular processes.
  • NADPH
    Electron carrier produced in light-dependent reactions, providing reducing power for carbon fixation in plants.
  • Photophosphorylation
    Mechanism where light energy drives ATP synthesis via an electron transport chain in chloroplasts.
  • Electron transport chain
    Series of protein complexes transferring electrons to generate a proton gradient for ATP production.
  • Carbon fixation
    Process incorporating inorganic carbon dioxide into organic molecules during the Calvin cycle.
  • Oxygen
    Byproduct released during photosynthesis, essential for supporting aerobic respiration in living organisms.
  • Glucose
    Six-carbon sugar synthesized from smaller sugars produced in the Calvin cycle, serving as a primary energy source.
  • 3-carbon sugar
    Initial carbohydrate product of the Calvin cycle, later used to build larger sugars like glucose.
  • NAD+
    Molecule reduced to NADPH during light-dependent reactions, acting as an electron acceptor in plants.