The thylakoid membranes provide a large surface area for the attachment of photosystems, electron carriers, and ATP synthase enzymes involved in the light-dependent stage.

The stroma contains a high concentration of photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll, to absorb the light energy required for the light-independent stage.

The double outer membrane is folded into numerous cristae to increase the surface-area-to-volume ratio for the rapid active transport of glucose out of the chloroplast.

The thylakoid lumen maintains a highly alkaline pH in order to provide the optimum environment for the enzymes, such as RuBisCO, that catalyze carbon fixation.