ABSTRACT
A location inside the thylakoids would thus be ideal; however, biliproteins were highly water soluble and easily extracted from damaged cells. The biliproteins of this red alga were assembled into discrete organelles which were on the outer surface of the thylakoids. The first isolation by Gantt and Conti of a phycobilisome used the cross-linking agent glutaraldehyde to preserve the organelles. Antiserum to allophycocyanin and R-phycocyanin gave a much weaker positive reaction with intact phycobilisomes than did antiserum to B-phycoerythrin. When the phycobilisomes were allowed to dissociate and selectively lose their phycoerythrin content, both antiserums to allophycocyanin and R-phycocyanin gave stronger positive reactions. The experimental procedure consisted of reacting the phycobilisome vesicle preparations with rabbit antiserum. The reaction was marked with ferritin-conjugated goat antirabbit antibodies because the ferritin particles were easily observed in the electron microscope. When antiserum against B-phycoerythrin was used, a strong positive reaction was observed.
