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Photophosphorylation 1 definitions

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  • Autotroph
    Organism capable of producing carbohydrates and oxygen using energy from sunlight through metabolic reactions.
  • Heterotroph
    Organism that generates carbon dioxide and water via oxidative phosphorylation, relying on organic compounds for energy.
  • Photophosphorylation
    Process in photosynthesis where ATP is synthesized using energy absorbed by photopigments from sunlight.
  • Chlorophyll a
    Primary photosynthetic pigment with a porphyrin ring containing magnesium, absorbing light maximally at 680 nm.
  • Porphyrin ring
    Cyclic structure found in certain pigments, featuring four pyrrole units and central metal ions like magnesium.
  • Magnesium
    Metal ion located at the center of the porphyrin ring in chlorophyll a, essential for light absorption.
  • Accessory pigment
    Molecule such as chlorophyll b or carotenoids that expands the range of light usable for photosynthesis.
  • Chlorophyll b
    Photosynthetic pigment that complements chlorophyll a by absorbing additional wavelengths of light.
  • Carotenoid
    Class of accessory pigments, including beta carotene, characterized by isoprene units and broadening light absorption.
  • Beta carotene
    Carotenoid pigment abundant in carrots, responsible for orange coloration and composed of isoprene units.
  • Isoprene unit
    Structural component found in carotenoids, contributing to their characteristic molecular architecture.
  • Phycobilin
    Light-absorbing pigment with a linear tetrapyrrole structure, distinct from the ring form in chlorophyll.
  • Tetrapyrrole
    Molecular structure consisting of four pyrrole rings, present in both porphyrin rings and phycobilins.
  • Absorption spectrum
    Graphical representation showing the range of light wavelengths absorbed by different photosynthetic pigments.
  • Action spectrum
    Plot correlating photosynthetic activity with light wavelength, indicating efficiency of pigments at various wavelengths.