Thylakoid

Thylakoid

A Thylakoid is a membrane-bound compartment inside chloroplasts and cyanobacteria. They are the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. Thylakoids consist of a thylakoid membrane surrounding a thylakoid lumen. Chloroplast thylakoids frequently form stacks of disks referred to as grana (singular: granum). Grana are connected by intergranal or stroma thylakoids, which join granum stacks together as a single functional compartment.

Structure

The thylakoid membrane encloses an internal space, the thylakoid lumen. The thylakoid membrane is a lipid bilayer which encloses the thylakoid lumen, an aqueous phase. The thylakoid membrane has integral and peripheral membrane proteins which assist in the light reactions of photosynthesis.

Function

Thylakoids are the site of the light-dependent reactions of photosynthesis. This includes the capture of light energy by chlorophyll, the transfer of electrons in the electron transport chain, the synthesis of ATP via chemiosmosis, and the splitting of water to produce oxygen gas.

See also

• Chloroplast
• Photosynthesis
• Grana
• Stroma

References

Thylakoid Resources
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