phycobilinlike
Phycobilins are a group of water-soluble, tetrapyrrole pigments that are found in cyanobacteria, red algae, and cryptophytes. They are responsible for the vibrant colors observed in these organisms, ranging from blue to red. Phycobilins are composed of a central tetrapyrrole ring system, similar to that found in heme and chlorophyll, but with a different arrangement of methyl groups. This structural difference gives phycobilins their unique spectral properties.
Phycobilins are typically classified into two main groups: phycocyanins and phycoerythrins. Phycocyanins absorb light in the
Phycobilins play a crucial role in photosynthesis by facilitating the transfer of light energy to the reaction
Phycobilin-like compounds are synthetic analogs of natural phycobilins. These compounds are designed to mimic the spectral