phycoerythrin

Phycoerythrin is a red protein pigment found in the cells of red algae. It functions as a light-absorbing pigment, playing a role in photosynthesis.12

Photosynthesis is the process where light energy is converted into chemical energy, using carbon dioxide and water to create organic molecules. While all algae use chlorophyll a, some, like red algae, utilize additional pigments such as phycobiliproteins (which include phycoerythrins) to capture light from wavelengths not absorbed by chlorophyll. This allows them to absorb more light energy at specific wavelengths, potentially converting more light energy into chemical energy.2