Biochemistry: The Chemical Reactions of Living Cells, Volume 3 - D. Metzler 1980

Light in Biology
Other Types of Light-Driven Reactions
Blue Light Responses

A wide variety of biological responses to light with wavelengths of 400–500 nm are known. These include the phototropism of Higher Plants and the phototaxis of Euglena. Judging by the action spectra (see the note on p. 28), carotenoids and flavins may act as photoreceptors. The relevant arguments were summarized in an article by Song and Moore, who concluded that flavins are the most likely candidates for this role [159]. For example, the photochemical degradation of flavins occurs in plants with The formation of lumichrome [160]. The process initiating the Responses of the fungus Phycomyces to blue light may be the photoreduction of a b-type cytochrome mediated by flavin [161]. Recent experiments [161a, b] have provided new evidence supporting the view that it is indeed flavin that serves as the photoreceptor in this Organism.



Last update: 06/08/2026

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