thumb|Photosynthetic electron transport chain of the thylakoid membrane. In oxidative phosphorylation, electrons are transferred from an electron donor such as NADH to an acceptor such as O through an electron transport chain, releasing energy. In photophosphorylation, the energy of sunlight is used to create a high-energy electron donor which can subsequently reduce oxidized components and couple to ATP synthesis via proton translocation by the electron transport chain.
thumb|Photosynthetic electron transport chain of the thylakoid membrane. In oxidative phosphorylation electrons are transferred from an electron donor such as NADH to an acceptor such as O through an electron transport chain, releasing energy. In photophosphorylation, the energy of sunlight is used to create a high-energy electron donor which can subsequently reduce oxidized components and couple to ATP synthesis via proton translocation by the electron transport chain.