Carotenoids and Photosynthesis

Hashimoto, H., Uragami, C. and Cogdell, R. J. (2016) Carotenoids and Photosynthesis. In: Stange, C. (ed.) Carotenoids in Nature: Biosynthesis, Regulation and Function. Series: Subcellular biochemistry (79). Springer International Publishing: Switzerland, pp. 111-139. ISBN 9783319391243 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-39126-7_4)

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Publisher's URL: http://www.springer.com/gb/book/9783319391243

Abstract

Carotenoids are ubiquitous and essential pigments in photosynthesis. They absorb in the blue-green region of the solar spectrum and transfer the absorbed energy to (bacterio-)chlorophylls, and so expand the wavelength range of light that is able to drive photosynthesis. This is an example of singlet–singlet energy transfer, and so carotenoids serve to enhance the overall efficiency of photosynthetic light reactions. Carotenoids also act to protect photosynthetic organisms from the harmful effects of excess exposure to light. Triplet–triplet energy transfer from chlorophylls to carotenoids plays a key role in this photoprotective reaction. In the light-harvesting pigment–protein complexes from purple photosynthetic bacteria and chlorophytes, carotenoids have an additional role of structural stabilization of those complexes. In this article we review what is currently known about how carotenoids discharge these functions. The molecular architecture of photosynthetic systems will be outlined first to provide a basis from which to describe carotenoid photochemistry, which underlies most of their important functions in photosynthesis.

Item Type:Book Sections
Status:Published
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Cogdell, Professor Richard
Authors: Hashimoto, H., Uragami, C., and Cogdell, R. J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
Publisher:Springer International Publishing
ISBN:9783319391243

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