The light-harvesting complex (LHC) functions as a light receptor, it captures and delivers excitation energy to photosystems with which it is closely associated. In chromophytic algae, LHC is associated with photosystem II, energy being transferred from fucoxanthin and chlorophyll C to chlorophyll A and the photosynthetic reaction centers where it is used to synthesize ATP and reducing power. The LHC complex of chromophytic algae is composed of fucoxanthin, chlorophyll A and C bound non-covalently by fucoxanthin chlorophyll proteins (FCPs). The ratio of the pigments in lhc; fucoxanthin: chlorophyll C: chlorophyll A is (0.6-1): (0.1-0.3): (1). FCPs are probably transported across the endoplasmic reticulum membranes that surround the plastid via a signal peptide, followed by translocation across the thylakoid membrane via a transit peptide. Belongs to the fucoxanthin chlorophyll protein family.