What Is a Chloroplast?
Chloroplast is a kind of plastid, which is an energy converter unique to higher plants and some algae. Its double-layer membrane structure separates it from the cytoplasm, and it has a laminar membrane containing chlorophyll, hence the name chloroplast. [1]
- Chloroplasts are plastids that contain green pigments (mainly chlorophyll a, b) and are places for photosynthesis of green plants. They are found in some cells of higher plant mesophylls and young stems, as well as in algae cells. The shape, number, and size of chloroplasts vary from plant to plant and from cell to cell. [2]
Chloroplast photosynthesis
- Photosynthesis is the process in which chlorophyll absorbs light energy and converts it into chemical energy. At the same time, carbon dioxide and water are used to make organic matter and release oxygen. This process can be expressed by the following chemical equation: 6CO 2 + 6H 2 O (light, enzyme, chloroplast) C 6 H 1 2 O 6 (CH 2 O) + 6O 2 . It includes many complicated steps, which are generally divided into two phases, light reaction and dark reaction. [6]
- Photoreaction: This is a process in which pigment molecules such as chlorophyll absorb, transmit light energy, and transfer light energy to chemical energy to form ATP and NADPH. During this process water molecules are broken down and oxygen is released. [6]
- Dark reaction: The next step in photosynthesis is performed in the dark (also under light). It is a process that uses ATP formed by light reaction to provide energy, NADPH 2 to reduce CO 2 , fixes formed intermediate products, and makes carbohydrates such as glucose. Through this process, the active chemical energy in ATP and NADPH 2 , is converted into stable chemical energy stored in carbohydrates. It is also called carbon dioxide assimilation or carbon assimilation process. This is a process in which many enzymes participate in the reaction. [6]