On the photophysics and photochemical properties of carotenoids and their role as light-harvesting pigments in photosynthesis

Abstract

In photosynthetic organisms, carotenoids have been implicated in several diverse roles Yet owing to profound technical difficulties encountered in attempting to examine the electronic state energies and dynamics of carotenoids both in vitro and in vivo, several questions remain, and much of the data and interpretations of the results are controversial. This paper will discuss some of these questions and controversies, the resolution of which is important in unraveling the manner in which carotenoids function in photosynthetic systems.