Comparative biochemical studies of the phycobilins

The native forms of the phycobilin chromophores of algal biliproteins. A clarification

Pigments released from phycoerythrins and phycocyanins by treatment with hot methanol are currently regarded as equivalent to the native chromophores phycoerythrobilin and phycocyanobilin. However, evidence presented here confirms the original view of O'Carra & O'hEocha [(1966 Phytochemistry 5, 993-997] that these methanol-released pigments are artefacts differing in their chromophoric conjugated systems from the native protein-bound prosthetic groups. By contrast, the native spectral properties are retained in pigments released by careful acid treatment of the biliproteins and these acid-released phycobilins, rather than the methanol-released pigments, are therefore regarded as the protein-free forms of the native chromophores. The conclusion reached by Chapman, Cole & Siegelman [(1968) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 89, 3643-3645], that all the algal biliproteins contain only phycoerythrobilin and phycocyanobilin, is shown to be incorrect. The identification of a urobilinoid chromophore, phycourobilin, accompanying phycoerythrobilin in B- and R- phycoerythrins is confirmed and supported by more extensive evidence. The cryptomonad phycocyanins are shown to contain a phycobilin chromophore accompanying phycocyanobilin. This further phycobilin has the spectral properties of the class of bilins known as violins and the provisional name "cryptoviolin" is proposed pending elucidation of its structure.

Physiology and cytological chemistry blue-green algae

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PHOTOINDUCTION AND PHOTOREVERSAL OF THE NOSTOCACEAN DEVELOPMENTAL CYCLE(1)

The developmental cycle of Nostoc muscorum, a nitrogen-fixing blue-green alga, is controlled by the spectral quality of illumination. Red light with peak activity at 650 mμ induces development of filaments from a nonfilamentous (aseriate) stage of the life cycle. Red-light photoinduction is reversed by simultaneous or subsequent exposure to light from a broad band in the green region of the spectrum. Photo-reversibility of the red-light induction, by green light, decays very slowly, remaining at an appreciable level for over 24 hr after the primary stimulus. Allophycocyanin is indicated to be the photoreceptor for red-light induction. One or more phyco-erythrins may operate as photoreceptors for reversal of induction. The dosage response and wavelength dependence of developmental photocontrol in Nostoc muscorum A indicate that a nonphotosynthetic mechanism is involved in both developmental photoinduction and its photor ever sal.