Chapter 1
Chlorophylls in Microalgae: Occurrence,
Distribution, and Biosynthesis
Jaqueline Carmo da Silva and Ana Teresa Lombardi
Abstract Chlorophylls (Chl) are the most abundant natural pigment supporting
oxygenic photosynthesis in microalgae and Cyanobacteria, whereby they derive
energy for metabolism and reproduction. In microalgae (eukaryotes) Chls are located
in the chloroplast, but in Cyanobacteria (prokaryotes) in the photosynthetic lamellae.
Chlorophylls are constituted by a large aromatic tetrapyrrole macrocycle (light
absorption and redox chemistry), a central Mg ion (maximizes excited state lifetime),
and a hydrocarbon tail (anchoring in thylakoids). Endosymbiosis Theory explains
the photosynthetic eukaryotes plastids origin, postulating that Cyanobacteria ancestral was engulfed by eukaryotic host cell and gradually transformed into organelles
that were further spread to other eukaryotes by additional rounds of endosymbiosis.
Evolution distributed the Chls a, b, c, d, and f among microalgae and Cyanobacteria, with Chl a universally distributed; Chl b in Euglenophyta, Chlorophyta, and
Charophyta; Chl c in Bacillariophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Xanthophyceae, Raphidophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Haptophyta, Cryptophyta, Dinophyta; Chl d in Rhodophyta;
Chl f in Cyanobacteria. The pathways of Chl a biosynthesis were based in experiments with leaves and Chlorella vulgaris, dating back to the forties. Latter, it was
documented the two genetically and biochemically different strategies for chlorophyll a biosynthesis, one being light dependent and one light independent co-exist.
Chl f is the most recently discovered Chl, helping Cyanobacteria thrive in environments dominated by far-red light; far-red light photoacclimation, whereby 8%
Chl a is replaced by Chl f , permits cyanobacteria expand light absorption range for
oxygenic photosynthesis up to 800 nm allowing them to access 33% more photons
than organisms that do not have Chl f.
J. C. da Silva (B)
PPGERN, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis km 235, São
Paulo SP 310 – 13565–905, Brazil
e-mail: jaquelinecarmodasilva@gmail.com
A. T. Lombardi
Department of Botany, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis km 235, São
Paulo SP 310 – 13565–905, Brazil
e-mail: lombardi@ufscar.br
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
E. Jacob-Lopes et al. (eds.), Pigments from Microalgae Handbook,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50971-2_1
1
Chlorophylls in Microalgae: Occurrence,
Distribution, and Biosynthesis
Jaqueline Carmo da Silva and Ana Teresa Lombardi
Abstract Chlorophylls (Chl) are the most abundant natural pigment supporting
oxygenic photosynthesis in microalgae and Cyanobacteria, whereby they derive
energy for metabolism and reproduction. In microalgae (eukaryotes) Chls are located
in the chloroplast, but in Cyanobacteria (prokaryotes) in the photosynthetic lamellae.
Chlorophylls are constituted by a large aromatic tetrapyrrole macrocycle (light
absorption and redox chemistry), a central Mg ion (maximizes excited state lifetime),
and a hydrocarbon tail (anchoring in thylakoids). Endosymbiosis Theory explains
the photosynthetic eukaryotes plastids origin, postulating that Cyanobacteria ancestral was engulfed by eukaryotic host cell and gradually transformed into organelles
that were further spread to other eukaryotes by additional rounds of endosymbiosis.
Evolution distributed the Chls a, b, c, d, and f among microalgae and Cyanobacteria, with Chl a universally distributed; Chl b in Euglenophyta, Chlorophyta, and
Charophyta; Chl c in Bacillariophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Xanthophyceae, Raphidophyceae, Phaeophyceae, Haptophyta, Cryptophyta, Dinophyta; Chl d in Rhodophyta;
Chl f in Cyanobacteria. The pathways of Chl a biosynthesis were based in experiments with leaves and Chlorella vulgaris, dating back to the forties. Latter, it was
documented the two genetically and biochemically different strategies for chlorophyll a biosynthesis, one being light dependent and one light independent co-exist.
Chl f is the most recently discovered Chl, helping Cyanobacteria thrive in environments dominated by far-red light; far-red light photoacclimation, whereby 8%
Chl a is replaced by Chl f , permits cyanobacteria expand light absorption range for
oxygenic photosynthesis up to 800 nm allowing them to access 33% more photons
than organisms that do not have Chl f.
J. C. da Silva (B)
PPGERN, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis km 235, São
Paulo SP 310 – 13565–905, Brazil
e-mail: jaquelinecarmodasilva@gmail.com
A. T. Lombardi
Department of Botany, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luis km 235, São
Paulo SP 310 – 13565–905, Brazil
e-mail: lombardi@ufscar.br
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
E. Jacob-Lopes et al. (eds.), Pigments from Microalgae Handbook,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50971-2_1
1