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Light Dependent Reactions definitions

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  • Photosystem
    Protein complex in the thylakoid membrane responsible for converting light energy into chemical energy during photosynthesis.
  • Thylakoid Membrane
    Internal chloroplast structure housing protein complexes where light-dependent reactions occur.
  • Light Harvesting Complex
    Region within a photosystem containing pigments that absorb photons and initiate energy transfer.
  • Reaction Center
    Core region of a photosystem where energy from excited electrons is converted into chemical energy.
  • Chlorophyll
    Pigment molecule with a unique ring structure enabling efficient absorption of light and electron excitation.
  • Photoexcitation
    Process where absorbed light energy raises an electron to a higher energy state within a pigment.
  • Resonance Energy Transfer
    Mechanism by which excitation energy, not the electron itself, is relayed between adjacent pigment molecules.
  • P680
    Special pair of chlorophyll molecules in Photosystem II acting as the initial electron donor after excitation.
  • Plastoquinone
    Mobile electron carrier that shuttles electrons from Photosystem II to the cytochrome b6f complex.
  • Cytochrome b6f Complex
    Protein complex that uses electron energy to pump protons, establishing a gradient across the thylakoid membrane.
  • Plastocyanin
    Copper-containing protein that transfers electrons from the cytochrome complex to Photosystem I.
  • P700
    Special pair of chlorophyll molecules in Photosystem I serving as the electron donor after light absorption.
  • Ferredoxin
    Iron-sulfur protein that accepts electrons from Photosystem I and delivers them to NADP+ reductase.
  • NADP+ Reductase
    Enzyme that catalyzes the final electron transfer to NADP+, forming NADPH for use in later reactions.
  • ATP Synthase
    Enzyme complex that synthesizes ATP using the proton gradient generated during electron transport.