Energy transfers official content key terms

ATP

Adenosine triphosphate, the primary energy carrier in cells, produced during the light-dependent reactions.

Electron transport chain

A series of protein complexes in the thylakoid membrane that transfer electrons, leading to ATP synthesis.

Calvin cycle

A series of biochemical reactions in photosynthesis that convert carbon dioxide and ribulose bisphosphate into glucose using ATP and reduced NADP.

GP (glycerate-3-phosphate)

A 3-carbon molecule formed in the Calvin cycle after the fixation of carbon dioxide to RuBP.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, using carbon dioxide and water.

Limiting factor

An environmental variable that limits the rate of a biological process, such as photosynthesis, when it is present at suboptimal levels.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants, algae, and some bacteria convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of glucose, using carbon dioxide and water.

Limiting factor

A variable that can limit the rate of a process, such as photosynthesis, when it is present at suboptimal levels.

Chlorophyll

A green pigment found in plants that is essential for photosynthesis, absorbing light energy.

Dehydrogenase

An enzyme that catalyzes the removal of hydrogen from a substrate, playing a key role in metabolic pathways.

Chromatography

A laboratory technique used to separate mixtures into their individual components based on their movement through a stationary phase.

Rf value

The ratio of the distance traveled by a substance to the distance traveled by the solvent front in chromatography.

Dehydrogenase

An enzyme that catalyzes the removal of hydrogen from a substrate, facilitating electron transfer in metabolic processes.

NADP+

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, a coenzyme that acts as an electron carrier in photosynthesis.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH.

Krebs Cycle

A series of enzymatic reactions in the mitochondrial matrix that oxidizes acetyl CoA to produce NADH, FADH2, and ATP.

Oxidative phosphorylation

A metabolic pathway that uses energy released by the electron transport chain to drive the synthesis of ATP from ADP and inorganic phosphate.

Proton gradient

A difference in proton concentration across a membrane, which creates potential energy used to drive ATP synthesis.

NAD

A coenzyme that functions as an electron carrier in cellular respiration.

FAD

A coenzyme that serves as an electron carrier, particularly in the Krebs cycle.

Aerobic respiration

A metabolic process that requires oxygen to convert glucose into ATP, producing carbon dioxide and water as byproducts.

Anaerobic respiration

A metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, resulting in the partial breakdown of glucose and the production of ethanol (in yeast) or lactic acid (in mammals).

Fermentation

A metabolic process that converts sugar to acids, gases, or alcohol in the absence of oxygen.

Enzyme denaturation

The process in which an enzyme loses its functional shape due to external stress, such as high temperature or extreme pH.

Trophic Level

A trophic level is a position in a food chain or food web, representing the flow of energy and nutrients from one level to the next.

Biomass

Biomass is the total mass of living matter in a specific area, often used to measure the energy available in an ecosystem.

Trophic Level

The position an organism occupies in a food chain, which determines its role in the transfer of energy and nutrients.

Energy Efficiency

The ratio of energy transferred from one trophic level to the next, often expressed as a percentage.

Trophic Level

A level in a food chain or food web, representing a specific position in the flow of energy and nutrients.

Primary Productivity

The rate at which energy is converted by photosynthetic organisms into organic substances.