LECTURE III

Abstract

Photosynthesis can be decomposed into “light” and “dark” reactions. The “light” reactions utilize pigments such as chlorophyll to convert the energy in light to H, NADPH and ATP. The “dark” reactions use these compounds to drive the Calvin cycle, which produces sugars. In cyanobacteria the light reactions take place in the membranes of structures called thylakoids, while the “dark” reactions take place in the bacterial cytosol.