From our article you will learn what chlorophyll is. It is this substance that determines the green color of plants and is a necessary condition for the synthesis of carbohydrates, and therefore their nutrition. But chlorophyll plays an important role in the life of animals. Which? 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, unripe fruits and other parts of the plant. The main function of chlorophyll is the implementation of the process of photosynthesis. The essence of this process is the synthesis of glucose and inorganic substances. And it happens in plastids containing chlorophyll molecules.
Discovery history
Chlorophyll was first known at the end of the 19th century. It was possible to isolate it from the leaves by two French chemists - pharmacists Joseph Covent and Pierre Pelletier. At the beginning of the 20th century, it was found that this substance consists of two components. This fact was experimentally proved independently in 1900 by the Russian botanist Mikhail Tsvet and the German biochemist Richard Wilstetter. Theseparticles were called a and b particles. For this discovery, Wilstetter 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
Chlorophyll contains all organisms that are autotrophs. First of all, these are plants of all systematic groups. So, all algae feed autotrophically. Therefore, they can only live at a depth where sunlight penetrates. Do algae contain chlorophyll, which are red, brown or golden in color with thallus? Undoubtedly. Simply, in addition to the green pigment, their cells also contain dyes of other colors. They determine the color of the algae, but it is chlorophyll that performs the function of photosynthesis.
In addition to plants, photoautotrophic bacteria and protozoa contain green pigment. For example, Euglena is green. This unicellular organism contains one large chloroplast. In the absence of the conditions necessary for photosynthesis, Euglena switches to a heterotrophic mode of nutrition.
Synthesis mechanism
The formation of chlorophyll in cells is a very complex process. It consists of 15 consecutive reactions proceeding in 3 stages. They pass first in the dark, and then in the light.
First, from the initial substances, which are acetate and glycine, protochlorophyllide is formed. It happens indark phase. Further in the light, this substance attaches hydrogen, resulting in the formation of chlorophyllide. The next stage again goes 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? It is a derivative of a porporphyrin substance having two carbonyl substituents. With weak acid treatment, magnesium is removed from the chlorophyll molecule, and it turns into kakfeofitin. It is a deep blue pigment with a waxy texture.
What is photosynthesis
Plants are called intermediaries between the sun and the earth for a reason. Only they are capable of converting energy with the release of a vital substance - oxygen. This process is called photosynthesis. In its course, the monosaccharide glucose and oxygen are formed from carbon dioxide and water in the light.
What is the role of chlorophyll in this process? The green pigment absorbs and transmits solar energy. In other words, chlorophyll acts like an antenna. As part of light-harvesting complexes, it first absorbs solar energy, and then transmits it in a resonant way to the reaction centers of photosystems.
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. You can often see it on confectionery packages.products. 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 s alt. 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 for 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 consumed both in liquid pharmaceutical form and as green leafy vegetables. Chlorophyll-rich spinach, broccoli, alfalfa, wheat and barley sprouts, nettles and parsley.
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 help to improve 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 some 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.
