A Simple and Affordable Method for Extracting Phycocyanobilin for Optogenetic and Imaging Applications

Phycocyanobilin (PCB) is a valuable chromophore used for optogenetics and imaging techniques. However, the high cost and limited availability of commercial supplies limit the broader adoption of these tools. Disturbingly, the high cost has led to several suppliers selling counterfeit PCB. Existing methods for research labs to produce their own PCB are laborious and require specialized equipment. Herein a simpler method to extract PCB from inexpensive sources is described. The resulting PCB is validated through spectroscopy and functionally using an optogenetic tool in Yeast cells. The ability to produce PCB on demand for such a low cost enables its use for larger scale uses, such as for in vivo animal studies.