Chlorophyll

What is chlorophyll

Green pigment in food responsible for photosynthesis

what is the general structure of chlorophyll?

four pyrrole rings, Mg in the middle, phytol chain

what bond connects the pyrole rings together?

methylene bridges

what are the different types of chlorophyll?

a,b,c,d,e,f

what are the major chlorophyll?

a and b

3a= 1b

how is a different than b?

a has a methyl gorup

b has a formyl group

Is the molecules hyrdophobic or hydrophilic?

HYDROPHOBIC due to side chain

what kind of molecule is chlorophyll referred to as?

tetrapyrol

does chlorophyll have double bonds?

YES

what are sources of chlorophyll?

plants ( leafy green, fruits), microorganisms ( bacteria, algae)

DO chlorophyll a and b absorb the same wavelengths?

NO look at graph

what happens to chlorophyll if the phytol is removed?

makes chlorophyllide ( bright green color)

• hydrophilic bc no more alcohol hydrocarbon

what enzyme is responsible chlorophyll→ chlorophyllide?

chlorophyllase

what happens to chlorophyllide if Mg 2+ is removed?

produces pheophorbide( olive brown)

also can happen at low pH

what happens to chlorophyll if Mg 2+ is removed?

produces pheophytin ( olive brown)

• HYDROPHOBIC

what is the difference between pheophytin and pheophorbide?

pheophytin still has the phtyol, so hydrophobic

pheophoride is hydrophilic

is chlorophyll naturally stable?

NO needs to be converted to Cu-chlorophyllin

what happens to chlorophyll when it is heated?

natural acids from the food will bre released which will remove the Mg atosm to form brown color PHEOPHYTIN

will washing the spinach affect the color?

NO because not hydrophobic

what will happen to chlorophyll if frozen?

it will dehydrate causing ice crystals to form, also can become susceptible to LOX because of double bonds

what molecules does blanching chlorophyll produce?

formation of pheopytins aand pheophorbides

what are some applications of chlorophyll?

dyes in food, cosmetics, and chelating agents

how is chlorophyll a chelating agent?

has antioxidant properties will sequester metal ions bc of its double bonds