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Chloroplasts are organelles that perform photosynthesis in plant and algal cells. They are also known as plastids and are named for their green color.
Chloroplasts are large organelles, measuring 5–10 μm long. They are surrounded by a double membrane called the chloroplast envelope, which contains an inner and outer membrane. Chloroplasts also have a third internal membrane system called the thylakoid membrane.
Chloroplasts contain their own genomes, which contain around 120 genes that are involved in chloroplast activities like energy production and gene expression. Chloroplasts also exhibit some prokaryotic traits, such as circular DNA, ribosomes, and reproductive methods. Chloroplasts contain chlorophyll, a green pigment that captures the sun's light energy and converts water and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen. Plants use glucose for growth. Chloroplasts are rich in iron, manganese, and copper. These metals have redox properties, so they must be carefully balanced within the cell.
Topics include: Light Absorption, Photosynthetic Pigments, Photosynthetic Units, Photophosphorylation, CO2 Fixation - C3 Plants, CO2 Fixation - C4 Plants, & CO2 Fixation - CAM Plants.
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