Photosystem

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Photosystem

Photosystem (/ˈfoʊtoʊˌsɪstəm/, from the Greek φῶς, phōs, "light" and σύστημα, sýstēma, "assembly") is a term used in the field of Biochemistry to describe a functional and structural unit of protein complexes involved in Photosynthesis.

Etymology

The term "Photosystem" was coined in the mid-20th century as scientists began to understand the complex process of photosynthesis. The prefix "photo-" comes from the Greek word for light, "phōs", reflecting the light-dependent nature of photosynthesis. The suffix "-system" comes from the Greek word "sýstēma", meaning an organized whole or assembly, referring to the organized structure of the protein complexes involved in this process.

Definition

A photosystem is a protein complex, a kind of molecular machine, used in photosynthesis to absorb light and convert it into chemical energy. There are two types of photosystems, Photosystem I and Photosystem II, which are named for the order of their discovery, not the order of the function.

Related Terms

  • Chlorophyll: The pigment that absorbs light in the photosystems.
  • Thylakoid: The membrane-bound compartment inside chloroplasts and cyanobacteria where photosystems are located.
  • Electron Transport Chain: The series of protein complexes that transfer electrons from photosystem II to photosystem I.
  • Light-dependent Reactions: The first stage of photosynthesis, which includes the function of photosystems.
  • Photophosphorylation: The process of converting light energy into chemical energy (ATP) using photosystems.

See Also

External links

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