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Carotenoids are the dominant pigment in autumn leaf coloration of about 15-30% of tree species. [27] However, the reds, the purples, and their blended combinations that decorate autumn foliage usually come from another group of pigments in the cells called anthocyanins. Unlike the carotenoids, these pigments are not present in the leaf ...
Like other carotenoids, xanthophylls are found in highest quantity in the leaves of most green plants, where they act to modulate light energy and perhaps serve as a non-photochemical quenching agent to deal with triplet chlorophyll (an excited form of chlorophyll), [citation needed] which is overproduced at high light levels in photosynthesis ...
Carotenoids containing some oxygen are known as xanthophylls. The two ends of the β-carotene molecule are structurally identical, and are called β-rings. Specifically, the group of nine carbon atoms at each end form a β-ring. The α-carotene molecule has a β-ring at one end; the other end is called an ε-ring. There is no such thing as an ...
The carotenoids have another role as an antioxidant to prevent photo-oxidative damage of chlorophyll molecules. Each antenna complex has between 250 and 400 pigment molecules and the energy they absorb is shuttled by resonance energy transfer to a specialized chlorophyll-protein complex known as the reaction center of each photosystem . [ 1 ]
In plants, carotenoids can occur in roots, stems, leaves, flowers, and fruits. Carotenoids have two important functions in plants. First, they can contribute to photosynthesis. They do this by transferring some of the light energy they absorb to chlorophylls, which then uses this energy for photosynthesis. Second, they can protect plants which ...
Within plants, carotenoids play the major roles of allowing light to be absorbed via photosynthesis as well ad providing photoprotection through a non-photochemical quenching. [2] The tetraterpene is also a product of the degradation of carotene and thus represents an important biomarker. However, where carotene has double bonds, carotane only ...
[28] [29] Another carotenoid, lutein is also found in different organs but it is one of the most preferred carotenoids of the brain and its retina and of the ovaries. [30] [31] This different affinity of different carotenoids to different organs can be used for more targeted delivery of hydrophobic bioactive molecules.
Lutein (/ ˈ lj uː t i ɪ n,-t iː n /; [2] from Latin luteus meaning "yellow") is a xanthophyll and one of 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids.Lutein is synthesized only by plants, and like other xanthophylls is found in high quantities in green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale and yellow carrots.