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Related Concept Videos

Light as Energy01:35

Light as Energy

The energy required to carry out photosynthesis is light— typically electromagnetic radiation from the sun. The range of all possible wavelengths is known as the electromagnetic spectrum.
Photons
A photon is a discrete electromagnetic particle or bundle of energy. Photons are characterized by their frequency, wavelength, and amplitude, similar to the properties of a wave. Waves with higher frequencies transmit more energy and have shorter wavelengths than longer wavelengths that transmit less...
The Antenna Complex01:15

The Antenna Complex

Plants and other photosynthetic organisms comprise pigments capable of absorption of direct sunlight. These pigments are present in the reaction center - the main site of photochemical reactions as well as in the antenna complex. Under average light conditions, the rate at which reaction center pigments absorb light is far below the electron transport chain's capacity. As a result, the reaction center alone cannot provide enough energy to drive photosynthesis. The photosynthetic efficiency can...
Photosystem II01:22

Photosystem II

The multi-protein complex photosystem II (PS II) harvests photons and transfers their energy through its bound pigments to its reaction center, and ultimately to photosystem I (PSI) through the electron transport chain. The pigments responsible for caputirng the light energy in photosystems include chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids.
The pigment molecules are arranged across  two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...
Photosystems01:32

Photosystems

Photosystems are multiprotein complexes that form the functional units of photosynthesis in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. They are found embedded in the membrane of tiny sac-like structures called thylakoids placed inside the chloroplast.
Functioning of Photosystems
Photosystems contain many pigment molecules, such as chlorophylls and carotenoids, arranged in a particular organization across two domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment molecules...
UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems01:32

UV–Vis Spectroscopy of Conjugated Systems

Organic compounds with conjugated double bonds show strong absorption features in the UV–visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum attributed to π → π* electronic excitations. Generally, a UV–vis absorption spectrum is recorded as a plot of absorbance vs wavelength. The wavelength of maximum absorbance, which manifests as a peak in the absorption spectrum, is denoted as λmax.
One of the factors influencing λmax is the extent of conjugation in the...
The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis01:34

The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis

The light reactions of photosynthesis assume a linear flow of electrons from water to NADP+. During this process, light energy drives the splitting of water molecules to produce oxygen. However, oxidation of water molecules is a thermodynamically unfavorable reaction and requires a strong oxidizing agent. This is accomplished by the first product of light reactions: oxidized P680 (or P680+), the most powerful oxidizing agent known in biology. The oxidized P680 that acquires an electron from the...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae
11:55

In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae

Published on: October 10, 2014

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPECTRUM IN CHLOROPHYLL FORMATION.

S R Frank1

  • 1Laboratory of Biophysics, Columbia University, New York.

The Journal of General Physiology
|October 30, 2009
PubMed
Summary

Carotenoids do not filter light for chlorophyll formation in etiolated Avena seedlings. Protochlorophyll acts as the primary light-absorbing pigment, with specific absorption peaks influencing chlorophyll synthesis.

Area of Science:

  • Plant Physiology
  • Photochemistry
  • Pigment Analysis

Background:

  • Carotenoid pigments are abundant in etiolated Avena seedlings' plastids.
  • Protochlorophyll is the known precursor to chlorophyll.
  • The role of carotenoids in light filtering for chlorophyll synthesis was unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if carotenoids function as light filters in the blue spectrum.
  • To establish an effectiveness spectrum for protochlorophyll in chlorophyll formation.
  • To characterize the absorption properties of protochlorophyll.

Main Methods:

  • Investigated light filtering by carotenoids in etiolated Avena seedlings.
  • Determined the relative effectiveness of sixteen spectral regions in chlorophyll formation.

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Non-invasive Assay for Chlorophyll Biosynthesis Kinetics Determination during Early Stages of Arabidopsis De-etiolation
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Non-invasive Assay for Chlorophyll Biosynthesis Kinetics Determination during Early Stages of Arabidopsis De-etiolation

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Evaluation of Photosynthetic Behaviors by Simultaneous Measurements of Leaf Reflectance and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analyses
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Evaluation of Photosynthetic Behaviors by Simultaneous Measurements of Leaf Reflectance and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analyses

Published on: August 9, 2019

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Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

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In Vitro Reconstitution of Light-harvesting Complexes of Plants and Green Algae

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Non-invasive Assay for Chlorophyll Biosynthesis Kinetics Determination during Early Stages of Arabidopsis De-etiolation
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Evaluation of Photosynthetic Behaviors by Simultaneous Measurements of Leaf Reflectance and Chlorophyll Fluorescence Analyses
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Published on: August 9, 2019

  • Measured protochlorophyll absorption peaks and relative heights.

    • Main Results:

    • Carotenoids do not filter blue light, suggesting a posterior location to protochlorophyll.
    • Protochlorophyll exhibits major absorption peaks at 445 nm (blue) and 645 nm (red).
    • The effectiveness spectrum of protochlorophyll closely resembles chlorophyll a and b absorption patterns.

    Conclusions:

    • Protochlorophyll is a blue-green pigment crucial for initiating chlorophyll synthesis.
    • The absorption spectrum of protochlorophyll aligns with a pigment found in Cucurbitaceae seed coats.
    • Evidence strongly suggests protochlorophyll is chemically identical to chlorophyll a minus two hydrogens.