Deconvolution of C-phycocyanin beta-84 and beta-155 chromophore absorption and fluorescence spectra of cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus.

Absorption and fluorescence spectra of the C-phycocyanin beta-subunit were quantitatively deconvoluted into component spectra of the beta-84 and beta-155 chromophores. The deconvolution procedure was based on a theoretical treatment of polarization properties. Four kinds of spectra (absorption, emission, emission polarization, and excitation polarization) measured on C-phycocyanin isolated from the cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus were used as the experimental data set. Without any assumption of spectral shape, the absorption and fluorescence spectra of both chromophores were unambiguously resolved and their fluorescence quantum yields were evaluated. By combining the spectra of the alpha-subunit, independently measured, with the resolved spectra of the beta-subunit, the fluorescence and fluorescence polarization spectra and the fluorescence quantum yield of the monomer were estimated; they agree with experimental values to within an acceptable error. Further, the matrix of energy transfer rates in the monomer was estimated; it gave a significantly different result (by up to 40%) from previously estimated ones.