Analysis of Phycobiliproteins

• Phycoerythrin - This is the most common phycobiliprotein found in red seaweed. It absorbs green light (around 550 nm) and emits red light.
• Phycocyanin - This protein is found in both cyanobacteria and red algae. It absorbs orange light (around 620 nm) and emits blue or cyan light.
• Allophycocyanin - This protein also absorbs light in the orange spectrum (around 650 nm) and emits red or far-red light.

Red Seaweed

• Phycoerythrin -This is the most common phycobiliprotein found in red algae. One red seaweed species that contains phycoerythrin is Porphyra (also known as Nori, widely used in sushi), specifically the type called Porphyra umbilicalis.
• Phycoerythrin Subtypes - There are also subtypes of phycoerythrin, referred to with either R, C, or B prefixes, present in some red seaweeds. For example: Gracilaria tikvahiae contains R-phycoerythrin, Ceramium rubrum contains C-Phycoerythrin, and Porphyridium cruentum contains B-phycoerythrin.
• Phycocyanin - Its presence is usually associated with bluish colour in algae. An example of a red seaweed species that contains phycocyanin is Antithamnionella spirographidis.
• Phycocyanin Subtype - C-phycocyanin can be found in red algae like Antithamnionella spirographidis.
• Allophycocyanin - This phycobiliprotein is generally less abundant in red seaweed than phycoerythrin. Species of Gracilaria, a red seaweed widely used for agar production, contain allophycocyanin.