5A The process of C3 photosynthesis

• photoautotroph


  an organism capable of undertaking photosynthesis
• photosynthesis


  the process of capturing light energy to power the production of glucose and oxygen from carbon dioxide and water
• mesophyll cell 


  a plant cell type found in leaves that contain large amounts of chloroplasts
• chloroplast


  a membrane-bound organelle only found in plant and photoautotroph cells that is the site of photosynthesis
• chlorophyll 


  a chemical found in the thylakoids of chloroplasts. It is responsible for absorbing light energy in photosynthesis
• Stoma (pl. Stomata)


  a small pore on the leaf's surface that opens and closes to regulate gas exchange
• xylem


  vascular tissue in plants responsible for transporting water and minerals from the roots to the leaves
• light-dependent stage


  the first stage f photosynthesis, where light energy splits water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen inside the thylakoid membranes. Also known as the light-dependent reaction
• thylakoid 


  a flattened sac-like structure housed inside the chloroplast. Each thylakoid id made up of a chlorophyll-containing membrane, enclosing a lumen. Thylakoids are the location of the light-dependednt stage of photosynthesis
• granum (pl. grana)


  a stack of thylakoids
• NADPH


  a coenzyme that is a proton (H+) and electron carrier in photosynthesis
• ATP


  adenosine triphosphate, a high energy molecule that, when broken down, provides energy for cellulr processes
• photolysis


  the process in which molecules are broken down by the action of light
• light-independent stage


  the second stage of photosynthesis where carbon dioxide is used to form glucose in the stroma of a chloroplast. Also known as the Calvin Cycle, the dark stage, or the light-independent reactions
• stroma


  the fluid substance that makes up the interior of chloroplasts. It is the site of the light-independent stage of photosynthesis.
• Light-dependent stage location


  Grana/thylakoid membrane
• Simplified Chemical Word equation for photosynthesis

  6 CO2 + 6 H2O --> (sunlight) C6H12O6 + 6 O2

  Carbon Dioxide + Water --> (sunlight) Glucose + Oxygen
• Inputs Light-dependent stage

  • 12 H2O
  • 12 NADP+
  • 18 ADP + Pi
• Outputs Light-dependent stage

  • 6 O2
  • 12 NADPH
  • 18 ATP
• Light-independent stage location


  Stroma
• Inputs Light-independent stage

  • 6 CO2
  • 12 NADPH
  • 18 ATP
• Outputs Light-independent stage

  • C6H12O6
  • 12 NADP+
  • 18 ADP + Pi
  • 6 H2O
• Calvin Cycle

  1. Carbon fixation - five carbon molecule then splits into 2x three carbon molecules
  2. Reduction - ATP breaks down into ADP + Pi and NADPH donates their hydrogen ions and electrons to release energy to facilitate further changes to the carbon molecule
  3. Regeneration - A specific three-carbon molecule leaves the cycle to be used to produce glucose