Study on the Structure of C-Phycocyanin in Spirulina platensis with Scanning Tunneling Microscope

The C-phycocyanin (C-PC) trimmer was isolated from the blue-green alga Spirulina platensis, and scanning tunneling microscope (STM) was used to investigate its structure. High resolution STM images of C-PC were obtained. From the STM images, it could be observed that the C-PC molecules were disk-like in shape and the subunits of C-PC arranged in ring-like pattern with a channel in the center. After filter treatment, the folding of the polypeptide chains could be seen clearly. This is the first time to observe directly the topography of phycobiliprotein, and the results showed STM to be a powerful tool for the structural study of phycobiliproteins.