In: Biology
Photosynthesis Light Reactions – Why is this like a battery?
light-dependent reactions take place on the thylakoid membranes during the photosynthesis in chloroplast. The inside of the thylakoid membrane is called the lumen. The thylakoid membrane contains some integral membrane protein complexes that catalyze the light reactions.
There are four major protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane. They are:Photosystem II (PSII), Cytochrome b6f complex, Photosystem I (PSI), and ATP synthase.
The four photosystems absorb light energy through pigments present in the chloroplast.
strong positive charge and a strong negative charge are separated in chloroplast in two different compartments during the light reactions of photosynthesis.
Energy is released when H+ ions (free protons) flow from the inside of a thylakoid disk to the stroma. This is electrical energy, since it is a flow of charged particles.
As energy is produced like in a battery during the light reactions of photosynthesis, chloroplast is considered like a battery.