Journal of Applied Phycology

, Volume 19, Issue 5, pp 441–447 | Cite as

Extraction and purification of an unusual phycoerythrin in a terrestrial desiccation tolerant cyanobacterium Lyngbya arboricola

  • S. N. Tripathi
  • Shivali Kapoor
  • Alpana Shrivastava
Article
First Online:
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Accepted:

Abstract

Presence and stability of an unusual phycoerythrin (PE) characteristically similar to R-PE are described in a terrestrial, desiccation-tolerant cyanobacterium, Lyngbya arboricola. Extraction and purification of the PE by using acetone precipitation, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography resulted in achieving a purity index (A560/A280) of up to 5.2. SDS-PAGE of the PE showed presence of 18 kDa, 20 kDa and 32 kDa bands corresponding to α, β and γ subunits of R-PE without any other contaminating phycobiliproteins (PBPs). The absorption spectrum of the PE was distinguished by two major peaks at 499 and 559 nm. The maximum fluorescence emission at room temperature was 578 nm. Spectroscopic and electrophoresis characteristics of PE in the dry mats on storage at 25 ± 1°C over silica gel for 2 years remained almost unaffected. Quantitatively, storage stability of the PE was in the order of dry mats > lyophilized > liquid state and the impact of temperature on loss of PE was in the order of 25°C > −20°C > 4°C. The relevance of L. arboricola for production of stable unusual PE is discussed.

Key words

cyanobacterium desiccation unusual phycoerythrin purification storage stability 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the Head, Department of Botany, for providing laboratory facilities, the Head, Department of Chemical Engineering, Banaras Hindu University, for spectroscopic analyses, and Department of Biotechnology, New Delhi, for financial support.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media, Inc. 2007

Authors and Affiliations

  • S. N. Tripathi
    • 1
  • Shivali Kapoor
    • 1
  • Alpana Shrivastava
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of BotanyBanaras Hindu UniversityVaranasiIndia

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