Isolation of phytochrome from the alga mesotaenium and liverwort sphaerocarpos

Phytochrome has been isolated from the green alga Mesotaenium and the liverwort Sphaerocarpos. The Mesotaenium pigment had absorption peaks at 649 and 710 nm for the P_R and P_FR forms, respectively. Corresponding difference spectrum maxima for the Sphaerocarpos pigment were at 655 and 720 nm. While the absorption maxima differ, the reversibility and efficiency with which red and far-red light transform the Mesotaenium pigment are very similar to that reported for phytochrome isolated from etiolated seedlings of higher plants. Methods are described which allow efficient separation of phytochrome from highly pigmented light-grown material.