Chromophores of C-phycocyanin and phycoerythrο-cyanin have been chemically modified by reduction to
rubins , bleaching , photoisomerization , or perturbation
with bulky substituents. Pigments containing modified
chromophores, or hybrids containing modified and unmodified chromophores in individual protomers have been prepared. All modifications inhibit the association of the
(aß)-protomers of these pigments to higher aggregates. The
results demonstrate a pronounced effect of the state of
the chromophores on biliprotein quaternary structure. It
may be important in phycobi1isome assembly , and also in
the dual function of biliproteins as (i) antenna pigments
for photosynthesis and (ii) reaction centers for photomor-phogenesis
