What does the “R” in R-Phycoerythrin stand for?
Originally, these subdivisions, identified by letter prefixes to the phycobiliprotein
name (e.g. C-phycocyanin, abbreviated CPC) indicated the taxa of the organisms from
which the pigments were isolated. For example, R-phycoerythrin (RPE) was first isolated
from the Rhodophyta; B-phycoerythrin (BPE) from the Bangiales; and C-Phycoerythrin
(CPE) from cyanobacteria. Further research has shown, however, that specific
phycobiliprotein types are not always restricted to specific taxa. In fact, there is a full
continuum of spectral types of phycoerythrins, determined by the relative abundance of
specific chromophores. Thus, letter prefixes applied to phycobiliproteins are currently
only a general indication of the shape of the absorbance curve (see Figure 1), and similarly
named pigments isolated from different sources should not be assumed to be identical.
Figure 1 - Relative Absorbance Spectra for PB31 R-Phycoerythrin (RPE), PB70 B-Phycoerythrin
(BPE) and PB80 Y-Phycoerythrin (YPE)
1933 Davis Street, Suite 207
San Leandro, CA 94577-1258
ProZyme® and Glyko® are registered trademarks of ProZyme, Inc., San Leandro, CA USA
(800) 457-9444
(510) 638-6900
FAX
(510) 638-6919
TOLL FREE
PHONE
E -MAIL
WEB
[email protected]
www.prozyme.com
010305AA