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Anatomy of Chloroplasts01:07

Anatomy of Chloroplasts

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Green algae and plants, including green stems and unripe fruit, harbor chloroplasts—the vital organelles where photosynthesis takes place. In plants, the highest density of chloroplasts is found in the mesophyll cells of leaves.
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What is Photosynthesis?00:39

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Photosynthesis is a multipart, biochemical process that occurs in plants as well as in some bacteria. It captures carbon dioxide and solar energy to produce glucose. Glucose stores chemical energy in the form of carbohydrates. The overall biochemical formula of photosynthesis is 6 CO2 + 6 H2O + Light energy → C6H12O6 + 6 O2. Photosynthesis releases oxygen into the atmosphere and is largely responsible for maintaining the Earth’s atmospheric oxygen content.
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Oxygenic Photosynthesis01:26

Oxygenic Photosynthesis

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Oxygenic photosynthesis is a fundamental process in which light energy is harnessed to drive the oxidation of water, leading to the production of molecular oxygen (O₂), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). This process is essential for sustaining aerobic life on Earth and is primarily carried out by cyanobacteria, algae, and plants. The core of oxygenic photosynthesis lies in the thylakoid membranes, where chlorophyll pigments facilitate...
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Photosystem II01:22

Photosystem II

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The multi-protein complex photosystem II (PS II) harvests photons and transfers their energy through its bound pigments to its reaction center, and ultimately to photosystem I (PSI) through the electron transport chain. The pigments responsible for caputirng the light energy in photosystems include chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids.
The pigment molecules are arranged across  two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment...
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The Anatomy of Chloroplasts01:08

The Anatomy of Chloroplasts

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Green algae and plants, including green stems and unripe fruit, harbor specialized organelles called chloroplasts to carry out photosynthesis. They coordinate both stages of photosynthesis — the light-dependent reactions and the light-independent reactions. The light-dependent reactions use sunlight to release oxygen and produce chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH, and the light-independent reactions capture CO2 and use ATP and NADPH to produce sugar.
Structure of...
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Photosystems01:32

Photosystems

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Photosystems are multiprotein complexes that form the functional units of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. They are found embedded in the membrane of tiny sac-like structures called thylakoids placed inside the chloroplast.
Functioning of Photosystems
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Correction to: Environmental consequences of interacting effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, ultraviolet radiation, and climate: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2024.

Photochemical & photobiological sciences : Official journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology·2025
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Environmental consequences of interacting effects of changes in stratospheric ozone, ultraviolet radiation, and climate: UNEP Environmental Effects Assessment Panel, Update 2024.

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Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Author Spotlight: Innovative Approaches to Understanding Plant Structure-Function Relationships for Climate-Resilient Crops
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Photosynthesis in Plants and Algae.

Donat-P Häder1

  • 1Department of Biology, Emeritus of Friedrich-Alexander University, Möhrendorf, Germany donat@dphaeder.de.

Anticancer Research
|October 3, 2022
PubMed
Summary

Photosynthesis powers most life on Earth, converting light energy into chemical energy. This process in plants and algae also yields compounds beneficial for treating various diseases, including cancers.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Plant Science
  • Evolutionary Biology

Background:

  • Photosynthesis is fundamental to Earth's ecosystems and provides valuable medicinal compounds.
  • Early life utilized chemosynthesis, while modern photosynthetic organisms evolved complex light-harvesting systems.
  • Photosynthetic bacteria use one photosystem; cyanobacteria, algae, and plants use two in linear electron transport.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To detail the mechanisms and significance of photosynthesis.
  • To highlight the role of accessory pigments in light absorption.
  • To explain the conversion of light energy into chemical energy (ATP and NADPH) for carbon fixation.

Main Methods:

  • Description of photosystems (I and II) and accessory pigments (chlorophylls, carotenoids, phycobilins).
Keywords:
ATPaseCalvin cyclePhotosynthesisalgaechlorophyllcyanobacteriaelectron transport chainphotosynthetic bacteriaplants

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  • Explanation of the linear electron transport chain, water photolysis, and oxygen release.
  • Outline of proton gradient formation and ATP synthesis via ATPase.

    • Main Results:

    • Accessory pigments funnel photon energy to reaction centers (P680 and P700).
    • Water splitting generates electrons for NADPH production and releases oxygen.
    • An electrochemical gradient drives ATP synthesis, fueling the Calvin cycle for CO2 fixation into fructose.

    Conclusions:

    • Photosynthesis converts light energy into chemical energy essential for life.
    • The process produces ATP and NADPH, which are used in the Calvin cycle to synthesize sugars.
    • Photosynthetic organisms offer secondary compounds with therapeutic potential, including anti-cancer properties.