Influence of urea on spectral properties of phycobiliproteins isolated from different species of blue-green and red algae was investigated. Studies on the spectral properties of phycobiliproteins conducted with high concentration of urea play a significant role in the dissociation of phycobilin pigments to subunits. The protein part of a molecule of algal phycobiliproteins is confirmed as important in the manifestation of the species-specific peculiarities of these pigments. The obtained data indicate the expediency of using spectral characteristics of phycobilin pigments as indicators of soil or water pollution by ammonium nitrogen and may be used for express analysis.

Keywords: phycobiliproteins, phycoerythrin, phycocyanin, urea, algae

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