STRUCTURAL DETERMINATIONS AND SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF CAROTENOIDS REVEAL THE FACTORS IMPORTANT IN CONTROLLING THEIR FUNCTION IN BIOLOGICAL-SYSTEMS

Objectives and conclusions: Recent reports in the literature have reve aled the structures of several carotenoids in photosynthetic pigment-p rotein complexes. These structures are highly suggestive of the manner in which carotenoids carry out their light-harvesting and photoprotec tive roles in photosynthesis. Spectroscopic studies augment the struct ural investigations by providing information on the energetics and dyn amics of carotenoids. These are molecular features important in contro lling the function of carotenoids in these systems.