Ficocyanin is a pigment - a protein complex from the family of light-harvesting phycobiliproteins , which also includes allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin [1] . The name comes from Greek. phyco - " seaweed " and cyanin from the English. cyan , which originally means a shade of green-blue and comes from Greek. kyanos , which denoted a different color - dark blue. It is an auxiliary pigment of chlorophyll . All phycobiliproteins are water-soluble, so they cannot be in the membrane like carotenoids , but instead aggregate into formed clusters that adhere to the membrane with phycobilis . Phycocyanin is light blue in color, absorbs orange and red light at about 620 nm (depending on type) and emits around 650 nm (which also depends on its type).
Allophycocyanin absorbs and emits longer waves than phycocyanin-C and phycocyanin-R. Phycocyanins have been found in cyanobacteria (formerly called blue-green algae).
Phycocyanin, synthesized by Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and spirulina , is used in the food industry as a natural dye `Lina Blue`. It can often be found in sweets, ice creams, and sodas.
Ficocyanin-C is usually found in cyanobacteria living in hot springs, since it remains stable up to 70 ° C, having identical spectroscopic (light-absorbing) characteristics at 20 ° C and 70 ° C.
Notes
- ↑ Glazer, AN, 1989. Light guides. Directional energy transfer in a photosynthetic antenna. J. Biol. Chem. 264: 1-4
Literature
- Barsanti, L., & et al. (2008). Oddities and Curiosities in the Algal World. Media, 353-391.