Lipid-based photon-absorbing molecule located, for example, within thylakoid membranes.
Chlorophyll molecules are arrayed into photosystems. Important to their functioning, they not only can absorb photons but also can donate photon-excited electrons to electron acceptor molecules. Notably this is to what is known as a primary electron acceptor.
The regeneration of cholorphyll molecules, necessary for further photon absorption, involves reduction, that is, since following electron donation to the primary electron acceptor the chlorophyll molecules are oxidized, i.e., missing electrons. In chloroplasts and cyanobacteria this process involves the oxidation of water along with an associated generation of molecular oxygen.
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