What is the role of antenna molecules?

What is the role of antenna molecules?

The first act of photosynthesis is the absorption of photons by antenna molecules (within femtoseconds), leading to the formation of excited chlorophyll molecules (Chl*). Another crucial function of antenna complexes is to serve as a safety valve for the thermal dissipation of excess absorbed light energy.

What is antenna complex in biology?

Antenna complexes are light-harvesting systems (LHC) which are protein-pigment complexes in or on photosynthetic membranes. LHCs receive radiant energy and transfer it to the reaction centers; an array of LHCs is often referred to as an “antenna”.

What is the function of antenna in photosynthesis?

Light-harvesting antennas are pigment-proteins that absorb light energy and transfer it to photosynthetic reaction centers.

Why do plants have antenna pigment molecules?

The role of the antenna pigments is to collect light energy from the sun and transfer it to reaction centers. In green plants and algae, these pigments are found in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts.

What is the main objective of the antenna complex in a photosystem?

What happens there? The antenna complex in a photosystem is where light is captured and the red or blue photon excites the electrons . What is resonance? The process by which electrons in chlorophyll molecules excite the adjacent chlorophyll molecules due to itself being in an excited state.

What is photon in photosynthesis?

Photons are essentially light energy and as such they are a key component in photosynthesis. Plants capture photons (light energy) through their chloroplast. Once light energy is captured, plants use it to create chemical molecules that convert carbon dioxide into food.

What is the role of antennae pigments of LHC?

The pigment-binding light-harvesting complex (LHC) proteins of plants and eukaryotic algae are the building blocks of the photosynthetic antenna system. They are responsible for light absorption, energy distribution between the photosystems, and photoprotection.

What is the role of antenna pigments?

The role of the antenna pigments is to collect light energy from the sun and transfer it to reaction centers. In green plants and algae, these pigments are found in the thylakoid membranes of chloroplasts. Other pigments, called accessory pigments, are carotenoids and phycobiliproteins.