B-Phycoerythrin from Rhodella violacea

Abstract

Two isoproteins of the “native” B-phycoerythrin of the red alga, Rhodella violacea, were purified from crude extracts by preparative polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and subsequently characterized. The slower moving pigment in gel electrophoresis was designated B-PE I, the faster as B-PE II. Both were found to occur in about equal amounts.

B-PE I has a molecular weight of about 280000 and an IEP at 4.39, B-PE II a molecular weight of nearly 265000 and an IEP at 4.23. B-PE I and II are characterized by absorption maxima at 568 and 542 nm and a shoulder at 500 nm in the visible part of the absorption spectra. Their absorption coefficients at 542 nm differ with values of 5.54 and 5.63, respectively. The fluorescence emission spectra show a single maximum at 575 for B-PE I and at 578 nm for B-PE II. Both spectra have a shoulder at 630 nm. The fluorescence yield of B-PE II is lower by 25%.

In calibrated SDS gel electrophoresis of the purified pigments B-PE I and II show two subunits of molecular weights of 18 900 and 29 200 and 18 500 and 29 900, respectively.

Quantitative amino acid analyses indicated, that the isoproteins are very similar. B-PE II, however, has a significantly higher content of acidic amino acids and a lower percentage of basic residues, which is in keeping with its lower isoelectric point.

Functional aspects of the occurrence of two isoproteins of B-phycoerythrin are discussed.