| Molecule | Class | Formula/Composition | Immediate role | Upstream inputs | Downstream outputs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cellulose | Structural polysaccharide | (C6H10O5)n | Main cell wall structural polymer (many green algae) | UDP-glucose | Cell wall microfibrils |
| Agarose | Structural polysaccharide | Repeating agarobiose (D-galactose + 3,6-anhydro-L-galactopyranose) | Cell wall component in red algae | Galactose metabolism | Agar gel matrix |
| Carrageenan | Sulfated polysaccharide | (C12H18O9S)n | Gel-forming cell wall polysaccharide in red algae | Galactose + sulfate groups | Thickening/gel in extracellular matrix |
| Alginate | Structural polysaccharide | Copolymer of β-D-mannuronic acid and α-L-guluronic acid | Cell wall and extracellular matrix in brown algae | Mannuronic acid biosynthesis | Alginate fibers/gels |
| Fucoidan | Sulfated polysaccharide | Fucose-based polymer with sulfate esters | Antioxidant and structural function in brown algae | Fucose metabolism | Cell wall/matrix components |
| β-1,3-glucan (laminarin) | Storage polysaccharide | (C6H10O5)n | Carbon/energy reserve (brown algae) | Photosynthesis (G3P) | Energy release via glycolysis |
| Starch | Storage polysaccharide | (C6H10O5)n | Carbon/energy reserve (green algae) | Photosynthesis (G3P) | Glucose via amylases |
| Chlorophyll a | Pigment (porphyrin) | C55H72MgN4O5 | Primary photosynthetic pigment in all algae | Tetrapyrrole biosynthesis | Light capture → electron transfer |
| Chlorophyll b | Pigment (porphyrin) | C55H70MgN4O6 | Accessory pigment in green algae | Chlorophyll a modification | Light capture (blue wavelengths) |
| Chlorophyll c | Pigment (porphyrin) | Variable (C35–C37) | Accessory pigment in brown algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates | Chlorophyll a modification | Light capture (blue-green light) |
| Phycocyanin | Pigment-protein complex | Protein + bilin chromophore | Light harvesting in cyanobacteria and red algae | Protein synthesis + bilin attachment | Energy transfer to photosystem II |
| Phycoerythrin | Pigment-protein complex | Protein + bilin chromophore | Light harvesting in red algae | Protein synthesis + bilin attachment | Energy transfer to photosystem II |
| Fucoxanthin | Carotenoid pigment | C42H58O6 | Accessory pigment in brown algae | Isoprenoid pathway | Light capture & photoprotection |
| β-carotene | Carotenoid pigment | C40H56 | Antioxidant and accessory pigment | Isoprenoid pathway | Vitamin A precursors, photoprotection |
| Lipids (TAG) | Triacylglycerols | Glycerol + 3 fatty acids | Energy storage | Fatty acid biosynthesis | Biofuel feedstock, membrane lipids |
| Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) | Fatty acids | e.g., EPA C20H30O2, DHA C22H32O2 | Membrane fluidity, signaling | Fatty acid elongation/desaturation | Membrane phospholipids |
| ATP | Nucleotide triphosphate | C10H16N5O13P3 | Energy currency | Photosynthetic phosphorylation | ADP + Pi |
| RuBisCO | Enzyme (protein) | Protein | Catalyzes CO2 fixation in Calvin cycle | CO2 + RuBP | 3-PGA (Calvin cycle intermediate) |
| Carbonic anhydrase | Enzyme (protein) | Protein + Zn2+ | Converts CO2 ↔ HCO3- for photosynthesis | CO2/HCO3- | Substrate for RuBisCO |
| Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) | Secondary metabolite | C5H10O2S | Osmolyte, anti-stress molecule, climate-relevant sulfur source | Methionine metabolism | DMS (volatile sulfur compound) |
| Mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) | Secondary metabolites | Variable | UV protection | Shikimate pathway | UV-absorbing compounds in cells |
Key terms in plain language
Open a term for a concise explanation of language used on this page.
Cloud Computing
Computing resources—such as applications, servers, storage, or databases—delivered from remote infrastructure and scaled as requirements change.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Cloud-based servers, storage, and networking that customers configure and manage without owning the underlying data-center hardware.
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Software accessed as an online service instead of being installed and maintained entirely on the customer’s own computers or servers.
Disaster Recovery (DRaaS)
A plan and service for restoring applications, data, and operations after an outage or disruption. DRaaS provides recovery infrastructure through a managed cloud service.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
The systems and policies that determine who a user is, what resources they may access, and how that access is authenticated and reviewed.
API
An application programming interface is a defined way for software systems to exchange data or request functions from one another.