Crustacyanin is a carotenoprotein biological pigment found in the exoskeleton of lobsters and blue crabs and responsible for their blue colour.[1] β-Crustacyanin (β-CR), is composed of two stacked astaxanthin carotenoids that absorb at λ = 580–590 nm (2.10–2.14 eV).[2] α-crustacyanin (α-CR) is an assembly of eight β-CR protein dimers. It is a 320 kDa (atomic mass) complex containing 16 astaxanthin molecules.[3] Although the β-CR dimer has a peak wavelength of 580 nm, α-CR exhibits a bathochromic shift to 632 nm; the mechanism and function of the additional wavelength shift is not understood.[3]
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)