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Selective Extraction of Chlorophyll a/Photosystem Polypeptides from Spirulina maxima Using Aqueous Two Phase Extraction

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Abstract

Spirulina, a photosynthetic cyanobacteria, has bioactive molecules such as phycobiliproteins which are useful in bioindustries. Aqueous two-phase extraction, an industrially effective process, have been applied to extract invaluable molecules from Spirulina, but mainly focused on optimal extraction of C-Phycocyanin. This research is to selectively remove chlorophyll a-pertaining photosystem polypeptides by stably forming interfacial layer between two phases of polyethylene glycol/potassium phosphate. Under an optimal condition of aqueous two-phase extraction, a stable interfacial layer was formed, while preserving purification efficiency of C-Phycocyanin. Through UV, fluorescence, and gel electrophoresis, chlorophyll a-pertaining photosystem polypeptides were ascertained to be extracted in the interfacial layer. C-Phycocyanin was mainly present in the top phase and allophycocyanin was in the bottom phase. In addition, the safety of the purified C-Phycocyanin was confirmed by examining cytotoxicity of C-Phycocyanin. In conclusion, a stable formation of interfacial layer was proved to be helpful in understanding the selective extraction of chlorophyll a-pertaining photosystem polypeptides, and the purified C-Phycocyanin can be used without cytotoxicity.

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by Korea Institute of Marine Science & Technology Promotion (KIMST) funded by the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (20220380), and also by the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy(MOTIE), Korea, under the “Regional Cooperation Innovative Growth R&D Program(R&D, P0021579)” supervised by the Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology(KIAT).

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  1. Yun Ji Cho and Byung Man Lee equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Engineering, Inha University, Incheon, 22212, Korea

    Yun Ji Cho, Byung Man Lee, Youngbin Baek & Hwa Sung Shin

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  1. Yun Ji Cho
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  2. Byung Man Lee
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Correspondence to Hwa Sung Shin.

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Cho, Y.J., Lee, B.M., Baek, Y. et al. Selective Extraction of Chlorophyll a/Photosystem Polypeptides from Spirulina maxima Using Aqueous Two Phase Extraction. Biotechnol Bioproc E 27, 1014–1021 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-022-0098-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-022-0098-5

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