While bacteria lack chloroplasts, some photosynthetic bacteria perform photosynthesis using chlorophyll embedded within their cell membrane. These pigments, along with other photosynthetic machinery, are integrated into the membrane, enabling the process.
Elaboration:
No Chloroplasts, but Photosynthesis:
Bacteria are prokaryotes and do not have the membrane-bound organelles like chloroplasts that plants use for photosynthesis.
Photosynthetic Pigments in the Membrane:
Instead, some photosynthetic bacteria, like cyanobacteria, have chlorophyll and other photosynthetic pigments directly integrated into their cell membranes.
Infoldings and Reaction Centers:
The cell membrane can also form infoldings, like thylakoids in plants, to increase the surface area for photosynthesis. These infoldings contain reaction centers that capture light energy.
Autotrophy:
This ability to perform photosynthesis allows these bacteria to be autotrophic, meaning they can produce their own food from light energy and carbon dioxide.