Chlorophyll a

[6] Chlorophyll a is essential for most photosynthetic organisms to release chemical energy but is not the only pigment that can be used for photosynthesis.

[5] Chlorophyll a can also be found in very small quantities in the green sulfur bacteria, an anaerobic photoautotroph.

[8] The porphyrin ring of bacteriochlorophyll is saturated, and lacking alternation of double and single bonds causing variation in absorption of light.

Different side chains characterize each type of chlorophyll molecule, and alters the absorption spectrum of light.

[5] Once detached from the porphyrin ring, phytol becomes the precursor of two biomarkers, pristane and phytane, which are important in the study of geochemistry and the determination of petroleum sources.

[13] In most plants, chlorophyll is derived from glutamate and is synthesised along a branched pathway that is shared with heme and siroheme.

Accessory photosynthetic pigments broaden the spectrum of light absorbed, increasing the range of wavelengths that can be used in photosynthesis.

Light energy radiating onto the chloroplast strikes the pigments in the thylakoid membrane and excites their electrons.

Phytoplankton can be affected indirectly by climatic factors, such as changes in water temperatures and surface winds.

Structure of chlorophyll a
Structure of chlorophyll a
Chlorin , the central ring structure of the chlorophyll a
The green boxed CH 3 is the methyl group at the C-7 position chlorophyll a
Absorption spectrum of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b . The use of both together enhances the size of the absorption of light for producing energy.
The antenna complex with energy transfer within the thylakoid membrane of a chloroplast. Chlorophyll a in the reaction center is the only pigment to pass boosted electrons to an acceptor (modified from 2).