Chlorophyll f
Encyclopedia
Chlorophyll f is a hypothesized form of chlorophyll
that absorbs further in the red (infrared light) than other chlorophylls. It was reported from stromatolite
s from Western Australia's Shark Bay
.
The finding was made by scientists at the University of Sydney
led by Dr. Min Chen
, and is the first discovery of a new form of chlorophyll in 60 years. However, the function of chlorophyll f in photosynthetic reactions is uncertain and the ecological distribution of chlorophyll f remains unknown.
Based on NMR
data, optical
and mass spectra
and density functional theory
(DFT) simulation, it is thought to have a structure of C55H70O6N4Mg or [2-formyl]-chlorophyll a.
Chlorophyll
Chlorophyll is a green pigment found in almost all plants, algae, and cyanobacteria. Its name is derived from the Greek words χλωρος, chloros and φύλλον, phyllon . Chlorophyll is an extremely important biomolecule, critical in photosynthesis, which allows plants to obtain energy from light...
that absorbs further in the red (infrared light) than other chlorophylls. It was reported from stromatolite
Stromatolite
Stromatolites or stromatoliths are layered accretionary structures formed in shallow water by the trapping, binding and cementation of sedimentary grains by biofilms of microorganisms, especially cyanobacteria ....
s from Western Australia's Shark Bay
Shark Bay
Shark Bay is a World Heritage listed bay in Western Australia. The term may also refer to:* the locality of Shark Bay, now known as Denham* Shark Bay Marine Park* Shark Bay , a shark exhibit at Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia* Shire of Shark Bay...
.
The finding was made by scientists at the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
led by Dr. Min Chen
Min Chen (biologist)
Min Chen, a biologist and associate professor of of . A/Prof Chen's research interests are primarily concerned with elucidating the molecular and biochemical mechanism of the energy-storing reactions in photosynthetic organisms, especially the function of novel photopigments in oxygenic...
, and is the first discovery of a new form of chlorophyll in 60 years. However, the function of chlorophyll f in photosynthetic reactions is uncertain and the ecological distribution of chlorophyll f remains unknown.
Based on NMR
NMR
NMR may refer to:Applications of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance:* Nuclear magnetic resonance* NMR spectroscopy* Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance* Protein nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy* Proton NMR* Carbon-13 NMR...
data, optical
Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy
Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy or ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry refers to absorption spectroscopy or reflectance spectroscopy in the ultraviolet-visible spectral region. This means it uses light in the visible and adjacent ranges...
and mass spectra
Mass spectrometry
Mass spectrometry is an analytical technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio of charged particles.It is used for determining masses of particles, for determining the elemental composition of a sample or molecule, and for elucidating the chemical structures of molecules, such as peptides and...
and density functional theory
Density functional theory
Density functional theory is a quantum mechanical modelling method used in physics and chemistry to investigate the electronic structure of many-body systems, in particular atoms, molecules, and the condensed phases. With this theory, the properties of a many-electron system can be determined by...
(DFT) simulation, it is thought to have a structure of C55H70O6N4Mg or [2-formyl]-chlorophyll a.