Oxygenic photosynthesis

Oxygenic photosynthesis uses light energy to transfer electrons from water to carbon dioxide and other acceptors, releasing molecular oxygen as a by-product.

Photosystem II: A membrane protein complex that uses light energy to extract electrons from water and reduce plastoquinone. Its water-splitting reaction is the source of the oxygen released.
Chlorophyll: A family of light-absorbing pigments that transfer excitation energy or electrons in photosynthesis. Chlorophyll pigments capture photons that drive the photosystems.
Cyanobacteria: A diverse phylum of bacteria that perform oxygenic photosynthesis. These bacteria are the only known prokaryotes that carry out oxygenic photosynthesis.
Primary production: The formation of organic matter from inorganic carbon by autotrophs. Oxygenic photosynthesis supplies much of the new biomass supporting ecosystems.
Oxygen-evolving complex: A manganese-calcium cluster in photosystem II that catalyzes water oxidation. It assembles the four electrons needed to release one oxygen molecule from water.
Photochemistry: The study of chemical reactions initiated by light absorption. Light absorption initiates the charge separations at the heart of the process.
Great Oxidation Event: A major rise in atmospheric oxygen beginning roughly 2.4 billion years ago. Oxygen produced by ancient photosynthesis accumulated in the atmosphere during this transition.
Global carbon cycle: The movement of carbon among the atmosphere, oceans, living organisms, soils, and rocks. Carbon fixation draws atmospheric carbon dioxide into biological and geological pools.
Photosystem I: A light-driven protein complex that energizes electrons for transfer to ferredoxin. It raises electrons from water to the energy level needed to reduce NADP⁺.
Redox reaction: A chemical reaction involving transfer of electrons between substances. Water loses electrons while electron acceptors gain them in photosynthetic energy conversion.

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