tilakoidmembraani

Tilakoidmembraani refers to the system of internal membranes within chloroplasts and cyanobacteria that are crucial for photosynthesis. These flattened sacs, often stacked into structures called grana, contain chlorophyll and other pigments that capture light energy. The tilakoid membrane is the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis.

Embedded within the tilakoid membrane are protein complexes, including photosystems I and II, electron transport chains, and ATP synthase. These components work in concert to convert light energy into chemical energy in the form of ATP and NADPH. Water is split in photosystem II, releasing oxygen as a byproduct. Electrons are then passed along the electron transport chain, driving the pumping of protons from the stroma into the thylakoid lumen, creating a proton gradient.

This proton gradient represents stored potential energy, which is then utilized by ATP synthase to produce ATP as protons flow back into the stroma. The NADPH produced during these light-dependent reactions serves as a reducing agent for the Calvin cycle, the light-independent phase of photosynthesis that occurs in the stroma. The structure of the tilakoid membrane, with its large surface area and organized arrangement of photosynthetic machinery, is highly adapted for efficient light capture and energy conversion.