Abstract
CAROTENOID pigments are closely associated with chlorophyll molecules in the chloroplast structure1,2. Some carotenoids, for example fucoxanthol3, can act as efficient sensitisers for the formation of the excited singlet state of chlorophyll although others, such as β-carotene, are very inefficient2,4,5. Other functions of carotenoids include acting as a deactivator of triplet chlorophyll (and hence protect the chlorophyll from photodegradation and also intercept the production of singlet oxygen) and as a deactivator of singlet oxygen6. Here we report in vitro experiments which unequivocally demonstrate that β-carotene quenches the excited singlet state of chlorophyll.
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BEDDARD, G., DAVIDSON, R. & TRETHEWEY, K. Quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence by β-carotene. Nature 267, 373–374 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/267373a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/267373a0
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