Production of phycocyanin—a pigment with applications in biology, biotechnology, foods and medicine

Abstract

C-phycocyanin (C-PC) is a blue pigment in cyanobacteria, rhodophytes and cryptophytes with fluorescent and antioxidative properties. C-PC is presently extracted from open pond cultures of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis although these cultures are not very productive and open for contaminating organisms. C-PC is considered a healthy ingredient in cyanobacterial-based foods and health foods while its colouring, fluorescent or antioxidant properties are utilised only to a minor extent. However, recent research and developments in C-PC synthesis and functionality have expanded the potential applications of C-PC in biotechnology, diagnostics, foods and medicine: The productivity of C-PC has been increased in heterotrophic, high cell density cultures of the rhodophyte Galdieria sulphuraria that are grown under well-controlled and axenic conditions. C-PC purification protocols based on various chromatographic principles or novel two-phase aqueous extraction methods have expanded in numbers and improved in performance. The functionality of C-PC as a fluorescent dye has been improved by chemical stabilisation of C-PC complexes, while protein engineering has also introduced increased stability and novel biospecific binding sites into C-PC fusion proteins. Finally, our understanding of the physiological functions of C-PC in humans has been improved by a mechanistic hypothesis that links the chemical properties of the phycocyanobilin chromophores of C-PC to the natural antioxidant, bilirubin, and may explain the observed health benefits of C-PC intake. This review outlines how C-PC is produced and utilised and discusses the novel C-PC synthesis procedures and applications.

Spirulina as a functional ingredient in broiler chicken diets

“…It has also been reported that the amino acid pattern of these microalgae could be comparable with or superior to that of other vegetable foods and feeds, and that they have a high nutrient digestibility (Spolaore et al, 2006;Plaza et al, 2009;Alvarenga et al, 2011). In addition, spirulina contains substances such as pigments (for example carotenoids such as β-carotene and zeaxanthin) (Maoka, 2011), phycobiliproteins (for example phycocyanin, which is unique in the cyanobacteria (Eriksen, 2008), vitamins (Becker, 1994), macro and micro mineral elements (Becker, 1994;Spolaore et al, 2006) and antioxidants (Christaki et al, 2013). These compounds reveal potential biological properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory or act as immune enhancers and colorants (Freitas et al, 2012;Batista et al, 2013;Christaki et al, 2013).…”

Preparation of phycocyanin microcapsules and its properties

“…The two subunits form ␣␤ monomers, which aggregate into ␣ 3 ␤ 3 trimers and further into disc-shaped ␣ 6 ␤ 6 hexamers, the functional unit of phycocyanin (Eriksen, 2008). It has good therapeutic values, such as antioxidative, immunomodulating, anti-cancer, antiviral, anti-allergic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, blood vessel-relaxing and blood lipid-lowering activities (Thangam et al, 2013), which made it a better active ingredient in functional food.…”

Purification and Characterization of Phycobiliproteins from Edible Cyanobacterium Nostochopsis sp.

“…Evaluation of phycobiliproteins Cyanobacterial phycobiliproteins are classified into three main groups: C-phycocyanin (dark cobalt blue, λmax = 610 − 620 nm), allophycocyanin (brighter aqua blue, λmax = 650 − 655 nm) and phycoerythrin (bright pink, λmax = 540 − 570 nm) depending on the inherent color and absorbance properties (Eriksen, 2008). Quantitative evaluation of C-phycocyanin, allophycocyanin and phycoerythrin content was performed in edible cyanobacteria Nostochopsis sp.…”

“…Our preliminary studies suggested that Nostochopsis cells contain substantial amounts of phycobiliproteins, which act as light-harvesting accessory pigments. C-phycocyanin (blue pigment protein) (Eriksen, 2008) in particular has been reported as a potent peroxy radical scavenger (Bhat and Madyasha, 2000), platelet aggregation inhibitor (Chiu et al, 2006) and proliferation inhibitor of cancer cells (Lin et al, 2000) in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic activity of Nostochopsis sp.…”