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Leaves change color in the fall because their chromophores (chlorophyll molecules) break down and stop absorbing red and blue light. [1] A chromophore is a molecule which absorbs light at a particular wavelength and reflects color as a result. Chromophores are commonly referred to as colored molecules for this reason.
Two examples of carotenoids are lycopene and β-carotene. These molecules also absorb light most efficiently in the 400 – 500 nm range. Due to their absorption region, carotenoids appear red and yellow and provide most of the red and yellow colours present in fruits and flowers. The carotenoid molecules also serve a safeguarding function.
Haem, for example, is a biochrome responsible for the red appearance of blood. It is found primarily in red blood cells (erythrocytes), which are generated in bone marrow throughout the life of an organism, rather than being formed during embryological development. Therefore, erythrocytes are not classified as chromatophores.
Chromophores found in photoreceptors include retinal (retinylidene proteins, for example rhodopsin in animals), [1] flavin (flavoproteins, for example cryptochrome in plants and animals) [2] and bilin (biliproteins, for example phytochrome in plants). [3] The plant protein UVR8 is exceptional amongst photoreceptors in that it contains no ...
Phycoerythrin (PE) is a red protein-pigment complex from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, present in cyanobacteria, [1] red algae [2] and cryptophytes, [3] accessory to the main chlorophyll pigments responsible for photosynthesis.The red pigment is due to the prosthetic group, phycoerythrobilin, which gives phycoerythrin its red color.
Retinal is a conjugated chromophore.In the Vertebrate eyes, retinal begins in an 11-cis-retinal configuration, which — upon capturing a photon of the correct wavelength — straightens out into an all-trans-retinal configuration.
For example, the amount of carotenoid a certain sea anemone decreases as we go deeper into the ocean. Thus, the marine life that resides on deeper waters is less brilliant than the organisms that live in well-lit areas due to the reduction of pigments.
Oat phytochrome absorption spectrum (Devlin, 1969). Phytochromes are a class of photoreceptor proteins found in plants, bacteria and fungi.They respond to light in the red and far-red regions of the visible spectrum and can be classed as either Type I, which are activated by far-red light, or Type II that are activated by red light. [2]