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accessory pigment
This term is used exclusively within biological and biochemical contexts, specifically regarding photosynthesis. It describes molecules like carotenoids or phycobilins that support the primary pigment, such as chlorophyll a, by expanding the absorption spectrum of the organism.
In a technical sense, these pigments act as an antenna system. They do not perform the actual conversion of light energy into chemical energy themselves but instead funnel that energy toward the reaction center, ensuring that light energy is not wasted.
Ý nghĩa
A pigment that is not the primary light-absorbing molecule but helps the organism capture a wider range of light wavelengths and transfer that energy to the reaction center.
The antenna complex of a photosynthetic cell contains various accessory pigments to maximize photon absorption.