THE AMINO ACID CONSTITUENTS OF THE PHYCOBILIN CHROMOPROTEINS OF THE RED ALGA PORPHYRA

Abstract
The phycobilin chromoproteins of 3 species of Porphyra were separated by column chromatography and their individual absorption spectra recorded. These "chromatographically purified" chromoproteins were subjected to acid hydrolysis and their constituent amino acids resolved by paper chromatography and determined quantitatively by a densitometric method. The quantitative amino acid composition of each chromoprotein differed. The dicarboxylic amino acids alanine, glycine and the 2 leucines were most abundant. Alanine was found to be present in high concentration in the phycoerythrin of P. naiadum and P. perforata.