Hero M Pantia

11 STEM B Einteinium

Importance of Algal Pigments in Photosynthesis

Chlorophylls, carotenoids (carotenes and xanthophylls), and phycobilins are the three major
classes of photosynthetic pigments found in algae. The pigments are characteristic of certain
algal groups as indicated below. Organic solvents such as acetone, methanol, or DMSO can be
used to extract chlorophylls and carotenes from thylakoid membranes because they are fat
soluble molecules. The phycobilins and peridinin, in contrast, are water soluble and can be
extracted from algal tissues after the organic solvent extraction of chlorophyll in those tissues.

The extraction techniques are designed to disrupt cell integrity as much as possible, allowing
pigment molecules to be extracted from intrinsic membrane proteins. Some of the problems
associated with working with material that produces large amounts of viscous polysaccharides
are alleviated by freezing the tissue with liquid nitrogen and then grinding the still frozen tissue
in with a mortar and pestle or blender. “Freeze-thawing” tissue also breaks down cellular
membranes, but may liberate more polysaccharides. To further disrupt cellular membranes and
liberate pigment molecules from light harvesting pigment protein complexes, finely ground
tissue can be homogenized in organic solvent.