What is photosynthesis?

The process of using the energy in sunlight to make food (glucose). Is it really as simple as that? Of
course not. As you have seen, photosynthesis includes many steps all conveniently condensed into one
simple equation. In the five concepts describing photosynthesis, this process has been presented in an
introductory fashion. Obviously, much more details could have been included, though those are beyond
the scope of these concepts.

The following 10 points summarize photosynthesis.

6CO2 + 6H2O + Light Energy → C6H12O6 + 6O2

Autotrophs store chemical energy in carbohydrate food molecules they build themselves. Most
autotrophs make their "food" through photosynthesis using the energy of the sun.

Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplast, an organelle specific to plant cells.

The light reactions of photosynthesis occur in the thylakoid membranes of the chloroplast.

Electron carrier molecules are arranged in electron transport chains that produce ATP and NADPH, which
temporarily store chemical energy.

The light reactions capture energy from sunlight, which they change to chemical energy that is stored in
molecules of NADPH and ATP.

The light reactions also release oxygen gas as a waste product.

The reactions of the Calvin cycle add carbon (from carbon dioxide in the atmosphere) to a simple five-
carbon molecule called RuBP.

The Calvin cycle reactions use chemical energy from NADPH and ATP that were produced in the light
reactions.

The final product of the Calvin cycle is glucose.

What is photosynthesis?

The process of using the energy in sunlight to make food (glucose). But of course it is much more
complex than that simple statement. Photosynthesis is a multistep biochemical pathway that uses the
energy in sunlight to fix carbon dioxide, transferring the energy into carbohydrates, and releasing oxygen
in the process.

What is NADPH?
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, an energy carrier molecule produced in the light
reactions of photosynthesis. NADPH is the reduced form of the electron acceptor NADP+. At the end of
the light reactions, the energy from sunlight is transferred to NADP+, producing NADPH. This energy in
NADPH is then used in the Calvin cycle.

Where do the protons used in the light reactions come from?

The protons used in the light reactions come from photolysis, the splitting of water, in which H2O
molecules are broken into hydrogen ions, electrons, and oxygen atoms. In addition, the energy from
sunlight is used to pump protons into the thylakoid lumen during the first electron transport chain,
forming a chemiosmotic gradient.

How do you distinguish between the Calvin cycle and the Krebs cycle?

The Calvin cycle is part of the light-independent reactions of photosynthesis. The Calvin cycle uses ATP
and NADPH. The Krebs cycle is part of cellular respiration. This cycle makes ATP and NAPH.

Do photosynthesis and cellular respiration occur at the same time in a plant?

Yes. Photosynthesis occurs in the chloroplasts, whereas cellular respiration occurs in the mitochondria.
Photosynthesis makes glucose and oxygen, which are then used as the starting products for cellular
respiration. Cellular respiration makes carbon dioxide and water (and ATP), which are the starting
products (together with sunlight) for photosynthesis.