Chloroplasts are found in the leaves and stems and are the site of photosynthesis.They consist of a double membrane enclosing stacks of flattened sacs called thylakoids, linked together by membranes called lamellae. Each stack is called a granum.The thylakoids contain a pigment called chlorophyll which is responsible for converting light energy to chemical energy stored in ATP and an electron carrier.The fluid interior is called the stroma and may contain starch grains or oil droplets for energy storage. Chloroplasts also contain a single loop of DNA that contains the information for the synthesis of proteins needed in photosynthesis.The thylakoid membranes provide a large surface area for photosynthesis.
Chloroplasts
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Specification: AQA Biology (7401), AS-level, 3.2.1.1 Structure of eukaryotic cells. Topic: Cell Structure.
Key terms in this lesson
- ATP
- Adenosine triphosphate, a nucleotide that acts as the immediate energy source in cells, releasing energy when hydrolysed to ADP and phosphate.
More in Cell Structure
- Transmission Electron Microscope
- Scanning Electron Microscope
- The Nucleus
- Mitochondria
- Endoplasmic Reticulum
- Golgi Apparatus
- Lysosomes
- Ribosomes
All 26 lessons in Cell Structure · All AQA AS-level Biology topics