Lysopsamling

Lysopsamling, meaning "light collection" in Danish, refers to the process by which plants and other photosynthetic organisms capture light energy for photosynthesis. This crucial process is primarily carried out by specialized pigments, most notably chlorophyll, which absorbs light in the red and blue parts of the spectrum, reflecting green light, hence the characteristic color of plants.

In photosynthetic organisms, light-absorbing pigments are organized within complex molecular structures called photosystems, located in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. When light strikes a pigment molecule, it excites an electron to a higher energy level. This energy is then efficiently transferred through a series of pigment molecules to a reaction center, where it is used to initiate the conversion of light energy into chemical energy.

There are two main types of photosystems, Photosystem II (PSII) and Photosystem I (PSI), which work in conjunction. PSII is responsible for splitting water molecules, releasing oxygen and protons, and generating high-energy electrons. These electrons then travel through an electron transport chain to PSI, where they are re-energized by light and ultimately used to produce ATP and NADPH, the energy currency and reducing power needed for the synthesis of sugars during the Calvin cycle. Efficient lysopsamling is therefore fundamental to life on Earth, forming the base of most food webs.