Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 3, 2025

Operation of Laboratory Photobioreactors with Online Growth Measurements and Customizable Light Regimes
Published on: October 28, 2021
Harnessing nature's palette: Exploring photosynthetic pigments for sustainable biotechnology
Roxana Ángeles1, João Carvalho2, Ingrid Hernández-Martínez3
1Institute of Sustainable Processes, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, Valladolid 47011, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technology, University of Valladolid, Dr. Mergelina s/n, Valladolid 47011, Spain; Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica 2829-516, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, NOVA University Lisbon, Caparica 2829-516, Portugal.
Abstract:
Photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria, microalgae, and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria (APB) have emerged as sustainable and economic biotechnology platforms due to their ability to transform energy from light into chemicals through photosynthesis. The light is absorbed by photosynthetic pigment-protein antenna complexes which are composed of pigments such as bacteriochlorophylls (BChl) and carotenoids in APB, and chlorophylls (Chl), phycobiliproteins (PBP), and carotenoids in cyanobacteria and microalgae. These photosynthetic pigments are essential in the physiology of photosynthetic microorganisms and offer significant health benefits due to their potent antioxidant activity, with properties that include anticancer, antiaging, antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. This review first provides an overview of current advances in photosynthetic pigment synthesis and the latest strategies to increase pigment content in cyanobacteria, microalgae, and APB. It then delves into the pigment production process, covering biosynthetic pathways, critical environmental parameters, and extraction methods. Finally, the potential marketability of photosynthetic pigments together with current limitations are discussed.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Oxygenic Photosynthesis
Anoxygenic Photosynthesis
The Z-Scheme of Electron Transport in Photosynthesis
Light as Energy
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...
Photosystem II
The pigment molecules are arranged across two photosystem domains — the antenna complex and the reaction center. The main aim of the pigment...
What is Photosynthesis?

