Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Light-dependent reactions are the first stage of photosynthesis where light energy is converted into chemical energy, resulting in the production of ATP (energy currency of cells) and NADPH (an electron carrier).
Related terms
Photosystem I & II: These are protein complexes involved in capturing light energy during photosynthesis.
Electron Transport Chain (ETC): A series of proteins embedded within a membrane that transfer electrons from one molecule to another, releasing small amounts of energy at each step.
Photolysis: This is a part of the light-dependent reactions where water molecules are split apart using light energy.