Abstract
Allophycocyanin (APC) is a minor component of phycobiliproteins in cyanobacteria and red algae. This paper describes a simple and inexpensive extracting method for isolating APC from Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis with high efficiency. The crude phycobiliprotein extract was pretreated by ammonium sulfate fractionation. Then, by adding hydroxylapatite into crude phycobiliprotein extract dissolved in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), APC was selectively adsorbed by hydroxylapatite but C-phycocyanin (C-PC) was not. The hydroxylapatite was collected and APC was extracted from the crude phycobiliprotein extract. Then, the enriched APC was washed off from the hydroxylapatite using 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). In this simple extracting method it was easy to remove C-PC and isolate APC in large amounts. The absorbance ratio A 650/A 280 of extracted APC reached 2.0. The recovery yield was 70%, representing 4.61 mg · g−1 wet weight. The extracted APC could be further purified by a simple anion-exchange chromatography with a pH gradient from 5.6 to 4.0. The absorbance ratio A 650/A 280 of the purified APC reached 5.0, and the overall recovery yield was 43%, representing 2.83 mg · g−1 wet weight. Its purity was confirmed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE.
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Acknowledgments
The work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (40676078, 40806056), Hi-Tech Research and Development Program of China (2008AA09Z404), Key International S&T Cooperation Project of China (2008DFA30440), Scientific and Technological Development Program of Shandong Province (2006GG2205009), and the Foundation for Young Excellent Scientists in Shandong Province (2008BS02019).
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Su, HN., Xie, BB., Chen, XL. et al. Efficient separation and purification of allophycocyanin from Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis . J Appl Phycol 22, 65–70 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-009-9427-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-009-9427-8