chromatophore (bacteria) chromatophore (bacteria) in some forms of photosynthetic bacteria, a chromatophore is a pigmented(coloured), membrane-associated vesicle used to perform photosynthesis. they contain different coloured pigments. not to be confused with chromatophores, pigment-containing and light-reflecting cells. chromatophores contain bacteriochlorophyll pigments and carotenoids. in purple bacteria, such as rhodospirillum rubrum, the light-harvesting proteins are intrinsic to the chromatophore membranes. however, in green sulfur bacteria, they are arranged in specialised antenna complexes called chlorosomes.