Role of Phycobiliprotein Antenna of Cyanobacteria, Red and Cryptophyte Algae in Association with Photosystems I and II

Abstract

Phycobiliproteins are photosynthetic antenna pigments of cyanobacteria and red algae, where they are assembled in macromolecular supercomplexes of phycobilisomes (PBS)s, as well as of cryptophyte algae, where they exist in the form of dimers. The absorbed light energy transfer from phycobiliprotein antenna to the photosystem II (PS II) is well known since the first studies in this field and is highly effective reaching 95-100%. However, interaction of phycobiliproteins with the photosystem I (PS I) is subject for discussion. Here, various data on energetic coupling of PBSs and phycobiliproteins with the PS II and PS I in photosynthetic organisms are discussed.