Phycocyanin is a blue pigment-protein complex from the light-harvesting phycobiliprotein family, found in cyanobacteria. It plays a crucial role in capturing light energy for photosynthesis.
congrats on reading the definition of phycocyanin. now let's actually learn it.
Phycocyanin absorbs orange and red light, particularly around 620 nm wavelength.
It is commonly found in cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.
Phycocyanin is water-soluble and can be used as a natural dye in food and cosmetics.
This pigment contributes to the characteristic blue-green color of cyanobacteria.
Phycocyanin forms complexes with other phycobiliproteins to create phycobilisomes, which are essential for efficient energy transfer during photosynthesis.
Review Questions
What type of organism primarily contains phycocyanin?
Which wavelengths of light does phycocyanin absorb most effectively?
How does phycocyanin contribute to the process of photosynthesis?