Is there a name for the use of sunlight in metabolic processes? "Photosynthesis" is what is used to describe how plants use sunlight to synthesize sugars, but, I also heard some animals like humans use sunlight in the process of creating vitamin D. Is there a comparable name for when sunlight is used by animals in a metabolic process?

**Photometabolism** or **photocatalysis** would be apt terms and the former would specifically refer to biochemical reactions.

**Photometabolism** is also used in the context of the light dependent conversion of 7-dehydrocholesterol to Vitamin-D.

A google scholar search with **photometabolism** returns many peer-reviewed articles that have used this term. Some examples:

1. Photometabolism of 7-dehydrocholesterol to previtamin D3 in skin.
2. The photometabolism of glucose by an hydrogen-adapted alga90173-1)
3. Photometabolism of Heterocyclic Aromatic Compounds by Rhodopseudomonas palustris OU 11.