I am trying to estimate the total phycocyanin present in the algal cells (before extraction) and then harvest PC using different methods to compare the efficiency of processes.
I performed serial harvesting processes to determine the maximum extractable PC but I am curious if there are any methods I could use to directly quantify PC using spectrophotometry in whole cells. Any kind of suggestion is much appreciated.
Measurement of in vivo PC can be easily done by fluorescence. You just have to make direct measurements on microalgae suspension diluted to fall within the sensitivity range determined by the fluorometer. There are portable and cheap fluorometers that could be useful for what I understand you need.
As far as I know there is no PC in macroalgae. PC is an specific pigment of cyanobacteria that has only been detected in some cryptophyte microalgae.
Thank you all for your valuable suggestions.
Jose Pedro Canavate: Thank you for your response. But phycobiliproteins are present in red algae and cyanobacteria. In cyanobacteria like Synechocystis the phycobilisome consists of phycocyanin (PC) and allophycocyanin (APC), while in red algae phycoerythrin is dominant and consists APC and PC too.
Yes, you are right Sunil, the rhodophyceae is the third algal group having PC, in addition to cyanobacteria and criptophyceae. I was basically thinking in cyanobacteria from your question. That's why my recommendation was on in vivo fluorometry of cell suspensions.
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