Tylakoidikalvot

Tylakoidikalvot are essential membrane-bound compartments found within chloroplasts and cyanobacteria. These flattened sacs are the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Within the thylakoid membrane, chlorophyll and other pigments are embedded, which capture light energy. This energy is then used to split water molecules, releasing oxygen and generating ATP and NADPH, which are crucial energy carriers for the subsequent light-independent reactions. The thylakoid membranes are often arranged in stacks called grana, with interconnected stromal lamellae. This arrangement maximizes the surface area available for light absorption and ATP synthesis. The lumen, the internal space of the thylakoid, plays a role in establishing a proton gradient that drives ATP production.