The discovery of photosynthetic phosphorylation

The discovery of photosynthetic phosphorylation (photophosphorylation) revealed the capacity of the photosynthetic apparatus to convert the electromagnetic energy of sunlight into the biochemical energy of ATP. Two types were found: cyclic photophosphorylation in which ATP is the sole product of energy conversion and noncyclic photophosphorylation in which ATP formation is accompanied by oxygen evolution and the generation of reducing power whose carrier is ferredoxin.