chloroplasts
Plant cell factories
Chloroplasts are structures within plant cells and algae that carry out photosynthesis, converting light energy into chemical energy.
These tiny green organelles contain chlorophyll, the pigment responsible for the green color of leaves and stems.
Like mitochondria, chloroplasts have their own DNA, evidence that they were once free-living bacteria that became incorporated into early cells billions of years ago.
Supportive tissue framework
Membrane-bound plant organelles
- organellesSpecialized cell subunits
- endosymbiosisOrganism living within another
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
- eukaryotesNuclear-membrane organisms
plant cells · algae · mesophyll · photosynthetic · semiautonomous · maternal inheritance
Fat-soluble plant pigments
- light absorptionMatter capturing radiant energy
- greenColor of vegetation
- beta-caroteneOrange plant pigment
- luteinYellow carotenoid in eyes
Decomposing H2O into elements
- photosystemsChloroplast light-capture units
- sugar productionCreating crystalline sweetener
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
- energy conversionChanging power between forms
stroma
Supportive tissue framework
lumen · ribosomes · nucleoid · inner membrane · outer membrane
plastids
Membrane-bound plant organelles
- organellesSpecialized cell subunits
- endosymbiosisOrganism living within another
- cyanobacteriaPhotosynthetic bacteria producing oxygen
eukaryotes · plant cells · algae · mesophyll · photosynthetic · semiautonomous · maternal inheritance
carotenoids
Fat-soluble plant pigments
- light absorptionMatter capturing radiant energy
- greenColor of vegetation
- beta-caroteneOrange plant pigment
water splitting
Decomposing H2O into elements
- photosystemsChloroplast light-capture units
- sugar productionCreating crystalline sweetener
- glucosePrimary cellular fuel
greening
Environmental improvement process
- variegationMixed coloring in tissue
- endosymbiontsmitochondria, plastids, plastid, chromatophores
- cellscells, blood cell, cell theory, nerve cell, red blood cell
- plant anatomyroot, stem, leaves, stems, leaf
- botanybotany, plants, plant biology, plant, plant anatomy
- cell partsnucleus, cytoplasm, mitochondria, ribosomes, cell membrane
- photosynthesisphotosynthesis, PSI, photosystem II, stroma, light absorption