Photosynthesis: The Light Reactions
Lincoln Taiz, Ian Max Møller, Angus Murphy, Eduardo Zeiger
Abstract
This chapter introduces the basic physical principles that underlie photosynthetic energy storage and the current understanding of the structure and function of the photosynthetic apparatus. It talks about how oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, such as plants, use solar energy to synthesize complex carbon compounds. It also explores the essential concepts that provide a foundation for understanding photosynthesis. The chapter also looks at light energy that drives the synthesis of carbohydrates and the generation of oxygen from carbon dioxide and water. It deals with the role of light in photosynthesis, the structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, and the processes that begin with the excitation of chlorophyll by light and culminate in the synthesis of ATP and NADPH.