bacteriochlorofyl
Bacteriochlorophylls are a family of chlorophyll-like pigments produced by photosynthetic bacteria. They act as primary light-harvesting pigments in anoxygenic photosynthesis, absorbing light mainly in the near-infrared and transferring energy to reaction centers. Compared with the chlorophylls of plants and cyanobacteria, they have a more reduced porphyrin backbone and different side chains, which shift absorption to longer wavelengths.
Bacteriochlorophylls occur in several groups of bacteria, notably purple sulfur and purple non-sulfur bacteria (Proteobacteria) and
Diversity: The family includes bacteriochlorophyll a and b, as well as chlorosome-associated c, d and e types.
Chemistry and biosynthesis: BChls share the chlorophyll tetrapyrrole core and Mg2+ center, and typically bear a
Significance: Bacteriochlorophylls are central to the physiology of anaerobic photosynthetic bacteria and provide insight into natural