Cyanobacteria are true survivors, and can produce sufficient energy from photosynthesis to stay alive even under poor light conditions. The specialized “light collectors” which they use for photosynthesis are known as biliproteins. Biologists from the Botanical Institute of LMU Munich have now identified the chemical features responsible for the intense color and luminance of these proteins and and the biosynthetic path- ways for their formation Biliproteins could in future be used as versatile labeling pigments in biology and in medicine.

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