Chlorophyll

Green plants are capable of producing their own sustenance. They accomplish this through a process known as photosynthesis, which employs a green pigment known as chlorophyll. A pigment is a molecule with a specific colour that can absorb light at various wavelengths depending on the colour. There are other pigments found in nature, but chlorophyll is unique in its capacity to allow plants to absorb the energy required to develop tissues.

Chlorophyll are found in the chloroplasts, that are small structures mainly found in plant cells. This is where photosynthesis occurs. Because phytoplankton, the microscopic floating plants that constitute the foundation of the entire marine food web, contain chlorophyll, high phytoplankton concentrations can cause water to seem green.

Structure of chlorophyll

Chlorophylls, like heme groups, are porphyrins mostly found in plants. As such, they are tetrapyrroles with a metal ion at their center. Unlike heme groups, which contain iron at their center, chlorophyll contains magnesium as its metal ion.

The pigment’s biosynthesis begins with two key intermediates (uroporphyrinogen III and protoporphyrin IX), followed by the insertion of magnesium ion at its core. However, further alterations result in the pigment’s varied shapes and specialisation in different creatures.

Chlorophyll is made up of the following chemical components: A porphyrin (tetrapyrrole) nucleus containing a chelated magnesium atom – The porphyrin head of the structure is made up of four pyrrole rings with nitrogen grouped in a ring.

Hydrocarbon chains connected by a carboxylic acid group – The tail component of the structure is made up of a long hydrocarbon chain. Chlorophyll pigments are held in place by proteins that bind to them. This puts them in the proper alignment to capture and transfer light energy during photosynthesis.

Chelate – An organic molecule containing a metal ion at its center.

Whereas chlorophyll a has a methyl ingredient in its structure, chlorophyll b has a formyl group in its place.

Tetrapyrroles have a structure in nature that is required for crucial biological functions.

Heme groups and chlorophylls are widely referred to as the “Colors of Life” since they are some of the most common tetrapyrroles in nature.

Types of chlorophyll

Chlorophyll a and b

Chlorophyll an is the principal pigment of photosynthesis in the vast majority of organisms competent of photosynthesis (plants, cyanobacteria, algae). It is in charge of absorbing light in the orange to red and violet to blue spectrums, which produces energy for subsequent photosynthetic activities.

While chlorophyll and is required for photosynthetic organisms, chlorophyll b is not. Despite being one among the most important chlorophyll pigments, it is not found in all photosynthetic species. As such, it acts as an auxiliary pigment to chlorophyll a.

Chlorophyll b absorbs blue light more than chlorophyll a and so broadens the spectrum of light absorbed. A greater range of solar energy is turned to chemical energy in plants having chlorophyll b.

Chlorophyll c

Chlorophyll c (Chl c) is found in many varieties of organisms, including nine types of algae (chromophyte algae) and two types of prokaryotes. This chlorophyll may co-occur with different pigments depending on the organism (e.g. Chl a and carotenoids).

For example, unlike the other forms of chlorophyll (that are Mg-chlorins), chlorophyll c has been demonstrated to be Mg-phyto porphyrins. The structure of this pigment includes propenoic acid (a trans acrylic acid) at the C-17 ring, which replaces the propionic acid side chain present in chlorophylls a and b.

Chlorophyll d

Chlorophyll d is a small pigment found in red algae and some microorganisms (cyanobacteria) that is involved in the uptake of the red spectrum of light (far end spectrum of red light). Chl d differs from other forms of chlorophyll in terms of structure.

Chlorophyll f

Chlorophyll f is the most recently discovered type of chlorophyll. Unlike the other pigments found in many plants and microorganisms, Chl f is present in cyanobacteria found in wet regions. Chl f, like Chl a and Chl c, has been proven to be an accessory pigment in the antenna system of cyanobacteria.

One of the most significant advantages of the pigment over others is its ability to absorb large amounts of near-infrared light when compared to other kinds of chlorophyll. As a result, the organism has a competitive advantage because energy is harvested from a different light wavelength than other organisms that rely on light for photosynthesis.

Conclusion

Chlorophyll is essential in keeping plants green and healthy. It also contains vitamins, antioxidants, and therapeutic characteristics that may assist your health. Chlorophyll can be obtained through plants or supplements, though supplements may be more effective. This is due to the fact that chlorophyll may not survive digestion long enough to be absorbed. Chlorophyll supplements are actually chlorophyllin, a copper-based supplement that contains magnesium rather than chlorophyll. When chlorophyllin doses are ingested, copper can be found in plasma, indicating that absorption has occurred.