Phycobilin
Phycobilin
Phycobilin (/faɪkoʊˈbɪlɪn/) is a type of light-absorbing pigment found in many photosynthetic organisms, particularly those in the phylum Cyanobacteria.
Etymology
The term "Phycobilin" is derived from the Greek words "phyco" meaning seaweed and "bilin" referring to bile. This is due to the pigment's initial discovery in red algae, a type of seaweed, and its structural similarity to bile pigments.
Types of Phycobilin
There are two main types of phycobilin: Phycoerythrin and Phycocyanin. Both are used in the process of photosynthesis to capture light energy and pass it on to chlorophyll.
- Phycoerythrin (/faɪkoʊɪˈrɪθrɪn/), which absorbs green light and emits red light, is most commonly found in red algae and cyanobacteria.
- Phycocyanin (/faɪkoʊsɪˈænɪn/), which absorbs orange light and emits blue light, is most commonly found in cyanobacteria and some types of green algae.
Function
Phycobilins are part of a larger group of proteins known as phycobiliproteins. These proteins form complexes known as phycobilisomes, which are attached to the thylakoid membrane in the chloroplasts of cyanobacteria and red algae. The phycobilisomes act as light-harvesting antennae, capturing light energy and transferring it to the photosynthetic reaction center.
Related Terms
- Chlorophyll: The primary pigment involved in photosynthesis, which absorbs light energy and uses it to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose.
- Photosynthesis: The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods with the aid of chlorophyll pigments.
- Cyanobacteria: A phylum of bacteria that obtain their energy through photosynthesis, and are the only photosynthetic prokaryotes able to produce oxygen.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Phycobilin
- Wikipedia's article - Phycobilin
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