Light Reaction
Where do light reactions take place?
Light Reactions take place in the thylakoid
Where do the dark reactions (Calvin cycle) take place?
Dark reactions take place in the chloroplast's stroma.
How does water enter the chloroplast for photosynthesis?
Water is brought to the chloroplast by the xylem.
What enzyme catalyzes the reaction between RuBP and CO2?
The enzyme RuBisCo catalyzes RuBP and CO2 during carbon fixation.
Describe the xylem.
vascular tissue that moves water around the plant.
What chemicals are made during the light reactions?
What chemicals are made during the dark reactions?
The dark reactions make the chemical G3P which can make glucose, sucrose, and starch.
How does CO2 enter the chloroplast for photosynthesis?
CO2 is brought to the chloroplast through the stomata.
What is the difference between NADP+ and NADPH?
NADP+ is the lower energy version of NADPH.
Describe the phloem.
Vascular tissue that moves nutrients from the leaves to the rest of the plant.
What are photosystems 1 and 2?
Photosystems 1 and 2 are proteins found in the thylakoid membrane. Photosystem 2 does photolysis, while Photosystem 1 makes NADPH.
What are the three parts of the dark reactions?
1. Fixation
2. Reduction
3. Regeneration
How does G3P exit the leaf after photosynthesis?
G3P exits the leaf through the phloem.
What does photolysis do?
Breaks water into oxygen and hydrogen.
Describe ATP synthase.
Membrane protein that makes ATP.
What is the cytochrome complex?
They cytochrome complex is a protein in the thylakoid's membrane that moves H+ from the outside of the thylakoid to the inside of the thylakoid.
What is combined with CO2 during carbon fixation?
The 5-carbon chemical "RuBP" is combined with CO2 during carbon fixation to make the 3-carbon chemical "3-PGA."
Where is the Electron Transport Chain located in photosynthesis?
The electron transport chain is located along the thylakoid's membrane. It refers to the 4 proteins Photosystem 2, Cytochrome Complex, Photosystem 1, and ATP Synthase.
What is chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is the pigment in Photosystems 1 and 2 that lets them turn solar energy into "moving electrons."
Describe an Electron Transport Chain.
A series of membrane proteins use the energy of electrons to do chemical reactions.
What is ATP synthase?
ATP synthase is a protein in the thylakoid's membrane that makes ATP when it moves H+ from the inside of the thylakoid to the stroma.
What is released during the reduction phase of the dark reactions?
A 3-Carbon chemical called G3P is released at the end of the reduction phase of the dark reactions.
Where specifically could I find RuBisCo in a chloroplast?
In the stroma of the chloroplast.
What biomolecule is RuBisCo?
Since RuBisCo is an enzyme, it is a protein.
Remember enzymes are special proteins that speed up biochemical reactions.
What is the "purpose" of photosynthesis?
To turn solar energy into chemical energy for the organism.
It's purpose is not to make oxygen, that is a "waste" product of photosynthesis.