September 26, 2014

Green light for clever algae




RUB researchers study extraordinary phycobiliproteins

Paper of the week: algae combine tried-and-tested with new synthesis methods

Phytoplankton not only constitutes the foundation of the food chain in the oceans, it also fixes carbon through photosynthesis and generates oxygen with the help of solar energy. A considerable part of phytoplankton is made up of cryptophytes, complex single-cell algae. In the course of evolution, these algae have adapted their light-harvesting mechanisms to their environment and have thus become capable of utilising green light.