noun
- A red or reddish-brown protein pigment found in red algae and cyanobacteria that absorbs light energy for photosynthesis.
Usage: technical; biology
Examples
- Phycoerythrin gives red algae their characteristic color.
- Scientists use phycoerythrin as a fluorescent marker in laboratory experiments.
- The phycoerythrin in cyanobacteria helps them capture light in deep ocean waters.
- Phycoerythrin absorbs blue and green wavelengths of light efficiently.
- Researchers isolated phycoerythrin from marine algae samples for analysis.