Photosynthesis

• Photosystem II is located on the outer surface of the thylakoid membrane.
• The light-dependent reactions occur in the thylakoid membranes, while the Calvin cycle occurs in the stroma.
• Carbon dioxide enters through stomata or cracks in leaves.
• photosynthesis is the process of converting raw materials (light, CO2, Water) into food and energy (glucose).
• photosynthesis is exclusive to autotrophs such as plants, algae, and cyanobacteria.
• the equation for photosynthesis is carbon dioxide + water -> glucose + oxygen.
• chloroplasts are the sights of photosynthesis in plants.
• the inner and outer membranes of the chloroplast regulate the transfer of molecules in and out of the organelle.
• the stroma is the liquid that suspends the parts inside the chloroplasts.
• thylakoids are flattened sacs within the chloroplast where light-dependent reactions occur.
• grana are clusters of thylakoid membranes stacked on top of one another.
• chlorophyll is responsible for the absorption of light energy in the chloroplasts.
• photosystem II is the first to absorb light (680nm) to initiate photolysis.
• photolysis is the splitting of water into oxygen, hydrogen, and electrons.
• ATP synthase uses the proton gradient created by the electron transport chain to produce ATP.
• Photosystem I follows PSII in the light absorption to energize incoming electrons.
• NADP+ accepts electrons and protons to become NADPH.
• The Calvin cycle is the second stage in photosynthesis that utilizes energy particles from the light reaction to convert CO2 into glucose.
• RuBP regeneration involves using ATP and NADPH to create RuBP molecules.
• Carbon fixation occurs when carbon dioxide combines with ribulose bisphosphate to form two unstable three-carbon compounds called 3PG.
• 6CO2 molecules result in 12PGAL wherein 10 molecules merge to become the CO2 acceptor (RuBi5) and the rest chemically bond into glucose.