Living off the Sun: chlorophylls, bacteriochlorophylls and rhodopsins

Pigments absorbing 350–1,050 nm radiation have had an important role on the Earth for at least 3.5 billion years. The ion pumping rhodopsins absorb blue and green photons using retinal and pump ions across cell membranes. Bacteriochlorophylls (BChl), absorbing in the violet/blue and near infra red (...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Photosynthetica 2018-03, Vol.56 (1), p.11-43
Main Authors: Larkum, A. W. D., Ritchie, R. J., Raven, J. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorption
Algae
Bacteria
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Cell membranes
Chlorophyll
Life Sciences
Mats
Membranes
Microbial mats
Microorganisms
Near infrared radiation
Photon absorption
Photons
Photosynthesis
Pigments
Plant Physiology
Protein biosynthesis
Radiation
Retina
Review
Water depth
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Summary:Pigments absorbing 350–1,050 nm radiation have had an important role on the Earth for at least 3.5 billion years. The ion pumping rhodopsins absorb blue and green photons using retinal and pump ions across cell membranes. Bacteriochlorophylls (BChl), absorbing in the violet/blue and near infra red (NIR), power anoxygenic photosynthesis, with one photoreaction centre; and chlorophylls (Chl), absorbing in the violet/blue and red (occasionally NIR) power oxygenic photosynthesis, with two photoreaction centres. The accessory (bacterio)chlorophylls add to the spectral range (bandwidth) of photon absorption, e.g. , in algae living at depth in clear oceanic water and in algae and photosynthetic (PS) bacteria in microbial mats. Organism size, via the package effect, determines the photon absorption benefit of the costs of synthesis of the pigment–protein complexes. There are unresolved issues as to the evolution of Chls vs. BChls and the role of violet/blue and NIR radiation in PS bacteria.
ISSN:0300-3604
1573-9058
DOI:10.1007/s11099-018-0792-x