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Peridinin

Peridinin is a chlorophyll protein found in the Amphidinium carterae dinoflagellate. Its full name is Peridinin-chlorophyll A protein 2, chloroplast, or PCP for short. Peridinin functions as a water soluble antenna for the capture of blue-green solar energy, processing the sunlight it thus captures to turn it into energy for the dinoflagellate it is attached to.

Researchers are still exploring the largely unknown workings of peridinin PCP. According to ex-vitro testing, it would appear that peridinin does not produce sufficient energy to be acceptable as a chlorophyll light-producing substance. Yet it does seem that dinoflagellates use it this way. Current theories are that peridinin, while important in the functioning of photosynthesis of dinoflagellates, is not the only part of the photosynthesis process.

If researchers were able to find a simple and safe way to block peridinin, it would be possible to stop the functioning of red tide, which is primarily caused by the overproduction of dinoflagellates.

Web Resources On Peridinin

Energy Transfer in Peridinin-Chlorophyll-a-Protein
Energy Transfer in the Peridinin of Amphidinium carterae

Book Resources On Peridinin

Peridinin-chlorophyll a proteins of dinoflagellate algae by Harold W. Siegelman
Dinoflagellates by David L. Spector

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