Chromatophore

Chromatophore is a name for various pigment-containing cells or cell compartments in different groups of organisms.

1 plants. Collective term for the colored plastids, ie chloroplasts (green) and chromoplasts (orange). This also includes the Gerontoplasten that are to red ( autumn leaves ) colored yellow as old, degenerated plastids after degradation of chlorophyll, as well as the Phaeoplasten of brown algae and red algae rhodoplasts. The term chromatophore in the botanical sense was coined by Friedrich Schmitz in 1883 and is now considered outdated.

2 bacteria. Designation for the photosynthetic pigments supporting membranes of phototrophic bacteria, in particular when the purple bacteria.

3 wildlife. Name for the pigment-containing cells in vertebrates, crustaceans, certain snails and cephalopods. The chromatophores lie mostly loosely distributed in the skin or in the connective tissue of internal organs. Depending on the nature of the pigment, various types are described below:

• Xanthophores and Erythrophoren - contain carotenoids and pterins; yellow- red color, eg chameleons
• Guano or iridophores - save light reflective guanine crystals; whitish- silvery- iridescent, eg chameleons
• Melanocytes - cells that synthesize melanins; yellow to reddish- brown to black, such as the mosquitofish

• Cell Biology