Phycoerythrin
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Phycoerythrin is a red protein from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, isolated from cyanobacteria, red algae and cryptomonads.
A strong absorption peak exists at about 566 nm, and a strong emission peak exists at 575 ± 10 nm. (i.e. phycoerythrin absorbs green light and emits red light.)
Like all phycobiliproteins, phycoerythrin contains chromophores called phycobilins (e.g. phycoerythrobilin, phycourobilin).
In algae, phycoerythrin is an accessory pigment to the main light-absorbing chlorophyll pigments responsible for photosynthesis. The light energy is captured by phycoerythrin and is then passed on to chlorophyll.
R-Phycoerythrin is useful in the laboratory as a fluorescence-based indicator for the presence of cyanobacteria and for labeling antibodies in a technique called immunofluorescence, among other applications.
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