Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and Photosynthesis
Chlorophylls are a fundamental class of tetrapyrroles and function as the central reaction center, accessory and photoprotective pigments in photosynthesis. Their unique individual photochemical properties are a consequence of the tetrapyrrole macrocycle, the structural chemistry and coordination be...
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doaj-e3d65ecdddf0422ebabe7e3d036db8c52020-11-25T00:12:51ZengMDPI AGSymmetry2073-89942014-09-016378184310.3390/sym6030781sym6030781Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and PhotosynthesisMathias O. Senge0Aoife A. Ryan1Kristie A. Letchford2Stuart A. MacGowan3Tamara Mielke4SFI Tetrapyrrole Laboratory, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandSFI Tetrapyrrole Laboratory, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandSFI Tetrapyrrole Laboratory, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandSFI Tetrapyrrole Laboratory, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandSFI Tetrapyrrole Laboratory, Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, School of Chemistry, 152-160 Pearse Street, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, Dublin 2, IrelandChlorophylls are a fundamental class of tetrapyrroles and function as the central reaction center, accessory and photoprotective pigments in photosynthesis. Their unique individual photochemical properties are a consequence of the tetrapyrrole macrocycle, the structural chemistry and coordination behavior of the phytochlorin system, and specific substituent pattern. They achieve their full potential in solar energy conversion by working in concert in highly complex, supramolecular structures such as the reaction centers and light-harvesting complexes of photobiology. The biochemical function of these structures depends on the controlled interplay of structural and functional principles of the apoprotein and pigment cofactors. Chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls are optically active molecules with several chiral centers, which are necessary for their natural biological function and the assembly of their supramolecular complexes. However, in many cases the exact role of chromophore stereochemistry in the biological context is unknown. This review gives an overview of chlorophyll research in terms of basic function, biosynthesis and their functional and structural role in photosynthesis. It highlights aspects of chirality and symmetry of chlorophylls to elicit further interest in their role in nature.http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/6/3/781chlorophyllstetrapyrrolesporphyrinoidsphotosynthesischiralitysymmetrysolar energy conversion |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Mathias O. Senge Aoife A. Ryan Kristie A. Letchford Stuart A. MacGowan Tamara Mielke |
spellingShingle |
Mathias O. Senge Aoife A. Ryan Kristie A. Letchford Stuart A. MacGowan Tamara Mielke Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and Photosynthesis Symmetry chlorophylls tetrapyrroles porphyrinoids photosynthesis chirality symmetry solar energy conversion |
author_facet |
Mathias O. Senge Aoife A. Ryan Kristie A. Letchford Stuart A. MacGowan Tamara Mielke |
author_sort |
Mathias O. Senge |
title |
Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and Photosynthesis |
title_short |
Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and Photosynthesis |
title_full |
Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and Photosynthesis |
title_fullStr |
Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and Photosynthesis |
title_full_unstemmed |
Chlorophylls, Symmetry, Chirality, and Photosynthesis |
title_sort |
chlorophylls, symmetry, chirality, and photosynthesis |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Symmetry |
issn |
2073-8994 |
publishDate |
2014-09-01 |
description |
Chlorophylls are a fundamental class of tetrapyrroles and function as the central reaction center, accessory and photoprotective pigments in photosynthesis. Their unique individual photochemical properties are a consequence of the tetrapyrrole macrocycle, the structural chemistry and coordination behavior of the phytochlorin system, and specific substituent pattern. They achieve their full potential in solar energy conversion by working in concert in highly complex, supramolecular structures such as the reaction centers and light-harvesting complexes of photobiology. The biochemical function of these structures depends on the controlled interplay of structural and functional principles of the apoprotein and pigment cofactors. Chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls are optically active molecules with several chiral centers, which are necessary for their natural biological function and the assembly of their supramolecular complexes. However, in many cases the exact role of chromophore stereochemistry in the biological context is unknown. This review gives an overview of chlorophyll research in terms of basic function, biosynthesis and their functional and structural role in photosynthesis. It highlights aspects of chirality and symmetry of chlorophylls to elicit further interest in their role in nature. |
topic |
chlorophylls tetrapyrroles porphyrinoids photosynthesis chirality symmetry solar energy conversion |
url |
http://www.mdpi.com/2073-8994/6/3/781 |
work_keys_str_mv |
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