Phycobilisomes from blue-green and red algae: isolation criteria and dissociation characteristics

Journal Article · Sun Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Plant Physiol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.63.4.615· OSTI ID:5504316

Gantt, E; Lipschultz, C A; Grabowski, J; Zimmerman, B K

A general procedure for the isolation of functionally intact phycobilisomes was devised, based on modifications of previously used procedures. It has been successful with numerous species of red and blue-green algae (Anabaena variabilis, Anacystis nidulans, Agmenellum quadruplicatum, Fremyella diplosiphon, Glaucosphaera vacuolata, Griffithsia pacifica, Nemalion multifidum, Nostoc sp., Phormidium persicinum, Porphyridium cruentum, P. sordidum, P. aerugineum, Rhodosorus marinus). Isolation was carried out in 0.75 molar K-phosphate (pH 6.8 to 7.0) at 20 to 23 C on sucrose step gradients. Lower temperature (4 to 10 C) was usually unfavorable resulting in uncoupling of energy transfer and partial dissociation of the phycobilisomes, sometimes with complete loss of allophycocyanin. Intact phycobilisomes were characterized by fluorescence emission peaks of 670 to 675 nanometers at room temperature, and 678 to 685 nanometers at liquid nitrogen temperature. Uncoupling and subsequent dissociation of phycobilisomes, in lowered ionic conditions, varied with the species and the degree of dissociation but occurred preferentially between phycocyanin and allophycocyanin, or between phycocyanin and phycoerythrin.

• Research Organization: Smithsonian Institution, Rockville, MD
• DOE Contract Number: EY-76-S-05-4310
• OSTI ID: 5504316
• Journal Information: Plant Physiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Plant Physiol.; (United States) Vol. 63:4; ISSN PLPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550200 -- Biochemistry
550700* -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ALGAE
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
CARBOHYDRATES
CELL CONSTITUENTS
CENTRIFUGATION
DISACCHARIDES
DISSOCIATION
FLUORESCENCE
LUMINESCENCE
OLIGOSACCHARIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PH VALUE
PHOSPHATES
PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
PHYCOCYANIN
PIGMENTS
PLANTS
PORPHYRA
POTASSIUM COMPOUNDS
POTASSIUM PHOSPHATES
SACCHARIDES
SACCHAROSE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE