Phycocyanin, also known as Blue Phycocyanin, is found in cyanobacteria, mainly in spirulina, to which it gives its bluish hues. It plays a crucial role in cyanobacterial photosynthesis.

Condensed solar energy.

In addition to its abundant chlorophyll, spirulina produces phycocyanin, a unique protein complex that absorbs a very large proportion of the sun’s light spectrum, unlike other plants.

Phycocyanin (from the Greek “phyco”: seaweed, and “cyanine”: cyan, meaning blue) is the combination ofa protein and a natural blue pigment, a color that is particularly rare in nature.

It’s this ability to capture light photons that gives it its exceptional qualities.

The composition of phycocyanin is fascinating. It’s a water-soluble protein called a phycobiliprotein. It is composed of two main subunits: α-phycocyanin and β-phycocyanin. Each of these subunits contains chromophore groups that absorb light in the blue and red parts of the spectrum, giving phycocyanin its characteristic blue-green color.

Phycocyanin, a key component of spirulina, has a complex, highly organized structure. The subunits combine to form complexes called phycobilisomes, which are responsible for capturing and transferring the light energy required for photosynthesis in algae. These complexes can be isolated from algae and used for a variety of purposes, including the food industry and scientific research in biotechnology.