Abstract
Lasing in the 602-620 nm (orange-red) spectral region has been observed from R-phycoerythrin (RPE), a phycobiliprotein responsible for the >80% quantum yield of red algae. Photoexcitation of 8 μM RPE solutions in a Fabry-Pérot resonator with frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser pulses (λp = 532 nm) yields >26 nJ of energy in ∼2.5 ns (FWHM) pulses, which corresponds to >10 W of peak power. Maximum laser emission occurs at ∼610 nm, the threshold pump energy fluence is measured to be 260 ± 15 μJ/mm2, and more than 100 longitudinal laser modes are generated when the cavity free spectral range and mirror separation are Δλ = 0.18 nm and L = 777 ± 1 μm, respectively. In combination with the known versatility of the phycobiliproteins as fluorescent tags, the biomolecular RPE laser reported here suggests its applicability to clinical assays and in situ laser imaging.
Highlights
Derived from red or blue-green algae, phycobiliproteins are fluorescent protein pigments that continue to have a profound impact on medicine, pharmaceuticals, and food science.[1]
The light-harvesting complex comprises phycobiliproteins whose chromophores are known as bilins.[5]
Phycoerythrins are the most prevalent phycobiliproteins in red algae, and R-phycoerythrins (RPEs), are known to require 34 bilins,[6] one of which is represented by the chemical structure of the upper inset to Fig. 1
Summary
Derived from red or blue-green algae, phycobiliproteins are fluorescent protein pigments that continue to have a profound impact on medicine, pharmaceuticals, and food science.[1]. (Received 10 August 2017; accepted 9 November 2017; published online 8 December 2017)
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