phæophytin Biochem.
(fiːəʊˈfaɪtɪn)
Also pheo-.
[a. G. phaeophytin (now phäo-) (Willstätter & Hocheder 1907, in Ann. d. Chem. CCCLIV. 207), f. Gr. ϕαιός dusky + ϕυτόν plant: see -in1.]
Either of two brownish compounds (orig. not distinguished) formed by the action of a weak acid on chlorophyll, having the structure of the latter except that the magnesium atom is replaced by two hydrogen atoms; a phytyl ester of phæophorbide: phæophytin a, C20H39OOC·C32H32N4O·COOCH3, or phæophytin b, C20H39OOC·C32H30N4O2·COOCH3.
| 1907 [see phytol]. 1950, 1956 [see phæophorbide]. 1967 Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. V. 269 The increase of the pigment ratio in deep water has to be ascribed in part to the persistence of yellow pigments and phaeophytin in decomposing plankton and in excrements. |