From our article you will learn what chlorophyll is. It is this substance that determines the green color of plants and is a prerequisite for the synthesis of carbohydrates, and therefore their nutrition. But chlorophyll plays an important role in animal life. Which one? Let's figure it out together.
What is chlorophyll
Translated from Greek, this biological term means "green leaf". Chlorophyll is a green pigment or coloring matter. It is he who determines the color of leaves, young shoots, immature fruits and other parts of the plant. The main function of chlorophyll is the implementation of the photosynthesis process. The essence of this process is the synthesis of glucose and inorganic substances. And it happens in plastids containing chlorophyll molecules.
Discovery story
What chlorophyll is first became known at the end of the 19th century. It was possible to isolate it from the leaves of two French chemists - pharmacists Joseph Covant and Pierre Pelletier. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was found that this substance consists of two components. This fact was experimentally independently proven in 1900 by the Russian botanist Mikhail Tsvet and the German biochemist Richard Wilstetter. These particles were called a and b particles. For this discovery, Willstatter was awarded the Nobel Prize.
This award was also received by Hans Fischer, who established the structural formula of chlorophyll. Robert Woodward succeeded in artificially synthesizing this substance in 1960.
Being in nature
X lorophyll contains all organisms that are autotrophs. First of all, these are plants of all systematic groups. So, all algae feed autotrophically. Therefore, they can live only at a depth to which sunlight penetrates. Do chlorophyll contain algae with a thallus that is colored red, brown or golden? Of course. Simply, in addition to the green pigment, their cells also contain coloring substances of other colors. They determine the color of the algae, but it is chlorophyll that performs the function of photosynthesis.
In addition to plants, green pigment contains photoautotrophic bacteria and protozoa. For example, euglena green. This unicellular organism contains one large chloroplast. In the absence of the necessary conditions for photosynthesis, euglena switches to a heterotrophic method of nutrition.
Synthesis mechanism
The formation of chlorophyll in cells is a very complex process. It consists of 15 sequential reactions proceeding in 3 stages. They pass first in the dark, and then in the light.
First, protochlorophyllide is formed from the starting materials, which are acetate and glycine. This occurs in the dark phase. Further, in the light, this substance binds hydrogen, as a result of which chlorophyllide is formed. The next stage is again in the dark. By combining with phytol, chlorophyll is synthesized. A feature of this substance is its instability to light.
What is chlorophyll in terms of chemistry? This is a derivative of the porporphyrin substance having two carbonyl substituents. With a weak acid treatment, magnesium is removed from the chlorophyll molecule, and it turns into caffeophytin. This is a dark blue pigment with a wax-like structure.
What is photosynthesis
Plants are not for nothing called intermediaries between the sun and the earth. Only they are capable of converting energy with the release of a vital substance - oxygen. Such a process is called photosynthesis. In its course, carbon monoxide and oxygen are formed from carbon dioxide and water in the light.
What is the role of chlorophyll in this process? Green pigment absorbs and transfers solar energy. In other words, chlorophyll acts like an antenna. As part of the light-harvesting complexes, it first absorbs solar energy, and then transfers it to the reaction centers of the photosystems in a resonant way.
Application
Chlorophyll is not only a natural component of plants. For example, it is used as a natural food coloring. This substance has registration number E140. It can often be seen on confectionery packaging. The disadvantage of this substance is its insolubility in water, which limits its scope.
What is chlorophyll number E141? It is a derivative of this substance, which is also used as a food coloring. It is also called chlorophyllin copper complex or trisodium salt. Its advantages are resistance to acidic environment, good solubility in water and alcohol solutions. Even with prolonged storage, chlorophyllin retains an emerald green color. The limiting factor of its use is the high content of copper and heavy metals.
Since chlorophyll contains magnesium, this substance is also beneficial for the human body. It can be used both in liquid pharmaceutical form and in the form of green leafy vegetables. Spinach, cabbage, broccoli, alfalfa, sprouts of wheat and barley, nettle and parsley are rich in chlorophyll.
The systematic use of liquid chlorophyll helps to increase the number of red blood cells. The fact is that this substance has a similar structure to hemoglobin. Their only difference is metal. Hemoglobin contains iron, and chlorophyll contains magnesium. Therefore, they contribute to improving the transport of oxygen to tissues and organs.
So, chlorophyll is a green pigment or coloring matter. It is found in the green parts of plants, the cells of certain bacteria and unicellular animals. The function of chlorophyll is to provide photosynthesis - the process of synthesis of organic substances from minerals due to the energy of light.