Phycobilin

From Palaeos.org

Phycobilin refers to a class of light-sensitive ligands bound to phycobiliproteins and used as accessory light-gathering pigments in algae. The mechanism is described in the entries for phycobiliprotein and phycobilisome. The phycobilins are, like chlorophyll, tetrapyrrole structures. However, unlike chlorophyll, the pyrrole rings are laid out linearly. The phycobilins have light absorption maxima which vary considerably depending on their exact chemical environment. It is also wrong to assume that any particular phycobilin species is exclusively bound to the phycobiliprotein with a similar name. There is considerable variation.

[edit] References

Grossman, AR, MR Schaeffer, GG Chiang & JL Collier (1993), The phycobilisome, a light-harvesting complex responsive to environmental conditions. Microbiol. Rev. 57: 725-749.

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