phycoerythrobilin
Sign in to savePhycoerythrobilin is a red phycobilin, i.e. an open tetrapyrrole chromophore found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of red algae, glaucophytes and some cryptomonads. Phycoerythrobilin is present in the phycobiliprotein phycoerythrin, of which it is the terminal acceptor of energy. The amount of phycoerythrobilin in phycoerythrins varies, depending on the organism. In some Rhodophytes and oceanic cyanobacteria, phycoerythrobilin is also present in the phycocyanin, then termed R-phycocyanin. Like all phycobilins, phycoerythrobilin is covalently linked to these phycobiliproteins by a thio
Article
5 sectionsContents
- Chemical structure
- Biosynthesis
- Biological role
- Uses
- References
Phycoerythrobilin is a red phycobilin, i.e. an open tetrapyrrole chromophore found in cyanobacteria and in the chloroplasts of red algae, glaucophytes and some cryptomonads. Phycoerythrobilin is present in the phycobiliprotein phycoerythrin, of which it is the terminal acceptor of energy. The amount of phycoerythrobilin in phycoerythrins varies, depending on the organism. In some Rhodophytes and oceanic cyanobacteria, phycoerythrobilin is also present in the phycocyanin, then termed R-phycocyanin. Like all phycobilins, phycoerythrobilin is covalently linked to these phycobiliproteins by a thioether bond.
==Chemical structure== Phycoerythrobilin is a tetrapyrrole formed in nature by the catabolism of heme B via biliverdin. Two geometric isomers of the compound have been reported, which differ only in the configuration of one sidechain. The stereochemistry of the compounds were confirmed by total synthesis of their methyl esters.