Yes, myoglobin is indeed a pigment.
Myoglobin is the primary pigment responsible for the color of meat, particularly red meat. It's a complex protein found in muscle tissue. This molecule consists of two main parts:
- Globin: A protein component.
- Heme group: A prosthetic group containing iron. The heme group is actually what gives myoglobin its color.
The iron atom within the heme group can bind to oxygen. When oxygenated, myoglobin appears bright red. When deoxygenated, it has a purplish hue. Changes in the oxidation state of the iron (e.g., oxidation from ferrous to ferric form) can cause the myoglobin to change color, often to a brown or grey color.
Therefore, because myoglobin imparts color to muscle tissue, it is definitively classified as a pigment.
