Xanthomonadin

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A yellow pigment made by bacteria of the genus Xanthomonas, used by them for protection against sunlight
2. A bright yellow, brominated pigment synthesized by plant-pathogenic bacteria belonging to the Xanthomonas group
3. The yellow compound that certain Xanthomonas bacteria produce to shield their cells from harmful light

Etymology: Xanthomonadin is a pigment, and its name is built from the name of the bacterial genus that produces it. That genus, Xanthomonas, was named from Greek roots: "xanthos" meaning yellow and "monas" meaning a single unit or unicellular organism, so the name describes yellow single-celled organisms. The "-in" ending is the standard chemical suffix used for many natural compounds and proteins, so the word simply means a yellow substance from Xanthomonas. The pigment is a family of related molecules that bacteria in this genus make, and they are notable for their colour: the bacteria form yellow colonies on plates and in plant tissue. These compounds are brominated aromatic molecules, which is unusual among bacterial pigments, and they help protect the cells from sunlight.