Which are the major phycobiliproteins present in cyanobacteria?
Phycobiliproteins are derived from the photosynthetic apparatus of cyanobacteria and eukaryotic algae, and form their large extrinsic antenna complexes called phycobilisomes. Phycobilisomes have a core composed from allophycocyanin (APC) and rods, which are of variable phycobiliprotein composition. C-Phycocyanin (C-Pc) is one of the major light harvesting biliprotein pigments constitutively produced by many cyanobacteria, such as Spirulina platenesis (a blue-green alga). B-Phycoerythrin (B-PE) is an other major light-harvesting pigment found in red algae and cyanobacteria. R-phycoerythrin (R-PE) is the major light-harvesting pigment protein of most red algal phycobilisomes.