The Chloroplast

Photosynthetic eukaryotes have membrane-bound chloroplasts, shown in a transmission electron micrograph on the left. Chloroplasts contain stacks of thylakoid membranes (sometimes called grana). Embedded within these thylakoid membranes are chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments. The thylakoid membranes are suspended in the stroma, a protein rich fluid.

Photosynthetic prokaryotes, which lack membrane-bound organelles, have invaginations of the cell membrane that serve a similar function as thylakoid membranes. The prokaryote cytoplasm serves as stroma.

Overview | Food Web | Leaf Structure | The Chloroplast | Pigments | Oxygen

Light Dependent Process | Light Independent Process

Problem Set