Qualitative and quantitative determination of R-phycoerythrin from Halymenia floresia (Clemente) C. Agardh by polyacrylamide gel using electrophoretic elution technique

•Determination of R­-PE in Halymenia floresia.•Application of extraction and purification techniques.•Detection of R-PE by preparative native page & electrophoretic elution.•Maximum values of purity index of R-PE was 5.9 with an yield of 41.1%.

R-Phycoerythrin is one of the phycobiliproteins widely found in seaweeds. In this study, we have shown to extract and purify R-Phycoerythrin from the south east cost Indian red seaweed Halymenia floresia. R-Phycoerythrin was extracted in 50 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). The preparative native PAGE purification was employed alternative to the chromatography and therefore can be scaled up efficiently. Both the yield and the purity of R-Phycoerythrin are very effective. The purified R-Phycoerythrin showed a single band on the examination by native PAGE electrophrosis. SDS-PAGE analysis showed five bands at 16 kDa, 21 kDa, 30 kDa, 39 kDa and 47 kDa which corresponds to the α, β and γ’, γ and αβ subunits. This preparative method for R-Phycoerythrin purification can offer a reference for R-Phycoerythrin purification from other marine red macro algae.