CHROMATOGRAPHIC PURIFICATION OF BILIPROTEINS FROM SPIRULINA-PLATENSIS- HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHIC SEPARATION OF THEIR ALPHA-SUBUNIT AND BETA-SUBUNIT

A fast preparative two-step chromatographic method for purification of C-phycocyanin and allophycocyanin from Spirulina platensis is describ ed. Both biliproteins were homogeneous as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis yielding two closely migra ting bands. Separation of alpha and beta subunits from C-phycocyanin a nd allophycocyanin was also accomplished by a chromatographic procedur e under denaturing conditions. The phycocyanobilin chromophore from bo th biliproteins has been isolated, tested for purity by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography and spectroscopically characte rized. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.