NEET
- Exam
- NEET
- Subject
- Botany
- Chapter
- Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
NEET · Botany · Photosynthesis in Higher Plants
What are the light harvesting complexes (LHC) made up of?
What are the light harvesting complexes (LHC) made up of?
Options
- AProteins only
- BPigment molecules only
- CPigment molecules bound to proteins
- DChlorophyll molecules only
Correct answer
C. Pigment molecules bound to proteins
Step-by-step solution
The pigments are organised into two discrete photochemical light harvesting complexes (LHC) within the Photosystem I (PS I) and Photosystem II (PS II). These are named in the sequence of their discovery, and not in the sequence in which they function during the light reaction. The LHC are made up of hundreds of pigment molecules bound to proteins. Each photosystem has all the pigments (except one molecule of chlorophyll a) forming a light harvesting system also called antennae. These pigments help to make photosynthesis more efficient by absorbing different wavelengths of light. The single chlorophyll a molecule forms the reaction centre. The reaction centre is different in both the photosystems. In PS I the reaction centre chlorophyll a has an absorption peak at 700 nm, hence is called P700, while in PS II it has absorption maxima at 680 nm, and is called P680.