Glossary

• ATP = nucleotide that provides energy to drive and support many processes in living cells
• Cuticle = protective film covering the outermost skin layer of plant organs
• Photolysis = decomposition or separation of molecules by the action of light
• Protons = stable subatomic particle that has a positive charge
• Electrons = subatomic particles with a negative charge
• Light-dependent reaction = uses light energy to make ATP and reduced NADP required for light-independent reactions
• Light independent reaction = use stored chemical energy to "fix" CO2 and create a product that can be converted into glucose
• Grana = stacks of thylakoids
• Thylakoids = little discs of membrane where light-dependent reactions take place
• Stroma = fluid surrounding the grana within the chloroplast
• Oxidation = process of gaining oxygen, or losing hydrogen or electrons
• Reduction = process of losing oxygen, or gaining hydrogen or electrons
• Photoionisation = process in which an electron is removed due to light
• Electron transport chain = series of proteins that transfer electrons from electron donors to acceptors
• Chemiosmotic theory = movement of hydrogen ions across a partially permeable membrane generates ATP
• NADP = final acceptor of the photosynthetic electron transport chain
• ATP synthase = enzyme that catalyses the formation of ATP using ADP and an inorganic phosphate
• Ribulose bisphosphate = organic substance that acts as the principal CO2 acceptor in plants
• Rubisco = enzyme that fixes CO2 in photosynthesis and in oxygenation of the resulting compound
• Glycerate 3-phosphate = end product of photosynthesis that can be used as an immediate food nutrient
• Triose phosphate = metabolite that occurs as an intermediate in several central pathways of all organisms
• Light compensation point = light intensity when the rate of photosynthesis equals the rate of cellular respiration