Studies on kinetics of reactions between phycobiliproteins and hydroxyl radicals by a pulse radiolytic technique

Scavenging of hydroxyl radical (· OH) by phycobiliproteins (C-phycocyanin, Allophycocyanin and R-phycoerythrin) was studied by competitive kinetics methods. Hydroxyl radicals were generated from pulse radiolysis of aqueous systems saturated with nitrous oxide (N2O). The experimental results indicated that the three types of phycobiliproteins are all strong scavengers of · OH, the rate constants are around (2.8-5.6)×109 L · mol-1 · s-1.