Differential spectroscopic analysis of size-dependent phycobilisome from Spirulina maxima

C-phycocyanin (C-Pc), a photosynthetic pigment for use as a fluorescent indicator or in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic products, exists in a phycobilisome complex with allophycocyanin (APC), phycoerythrin (PE), and linker polypeptides. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to quantify phycobilisome composition in an ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrum. In this study, derivative analysis of UV-vis spectra was successfully applied to display the distinct wavelengths at which C-Pc, APC, and PE have maximal peaks. In all samples, C-Pc of the largest portion had a "zero-crossing" first order, APC did not have a zero-crossing first order, and PE did not have first derivative for zero crossing or local minimum from the 500 and 700 nm, respectively. The results show that derivative analyses coupled with signal smoothing can be applied to elucidate the composition of phycobilisome under various conditions including purification and environment.