# US 12,139,516 B2 · Purification of phycobiliproteins

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,139,516 B2
- Document ID: US12139516B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/497,510
- Filed: 2018-03-30
- Published: 2020-04-16
- Granted: 2024-11-12
- Earliest claimed: 2017-03-30
- Assignees: Fermentalg
- Applicants: Fermentalg
- Inventors: Olivier Cagnac; Axel Athane; Julien Demol
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12139516B2

## CPC

- C07K 14/405: from algae
- A23L 5/46: using dyes or pigments of microbial or algal origin
- C07K 1/145: {by extraction or solubilisation}
- C12N 1/12: Unicellular algae; Culture media therefor (as new plants A01H13/00)
- C07K: PEPTIDES (peptides in foodstuffs A23; obtaining protein compositions for foodstuffs, working-up proteins for foodstuffs A23J; preparations for medicinal purposes A61K; peptides containing beta-lactam rings C07D; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, C07D; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type C07D519/02; macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units in their molecules, i.e. when the preparation does not provide for a specific; but for a random sequence of the amino acid units, homopolyamides and block copolyamides derived from amino acids C08G69/00; macromolecular products derived from proteins C08H1/00; preparation of glue or gelatine C09H; single cell proteins, enzymes C12N; genetic engineering processes for obtaining peptides C12N15/00; compositions for measuring or testing processes involving enzymes C12Q; investigation or analysis of biological material G01N33/00)
- A23L: FOODS, FOODSTUFFS OR NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PREPARATION OR TREATMENT THEREOF (preservation thereof A23B)
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)

## Abstract

The present invention relates to a novel process for purifying phycobiliproteins, in particular acid-pH-resistant phycobiliproteins, the resulting phycobiliproteins, and the uses thereof.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for purifying acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins from a crude extract of acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins from cells of a phycocyanin-producing microorganism, said microorganism being of the genus Galdieria, said acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins being phycocyanins stable at a pH less than 5, and
wherein the method comprises the steps of:
a) adjusting the pH of the crude extract of acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins to a pH below 5 so as to precipitate organic matter other than acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins,
b) recovering the supernatant comprising acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins obtained in step a) and
c) isolating acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins from the supernatant of step b).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the acid-pH-resistant phycocyanin comprises a mixture of C-phycocyanin (C-PC) and allophycocyanin (APC), the C-PC/APC molar ratio being at least 5.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins comprise at least 95 mol % acid-pH-resistant C-PC and less than 5 mol % APC, the percentages being expressed in relation to the total sum of APC and C-PC.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the recovery of the supernatant is carried out by filtration.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the microorganism is of the strain Galdieria sulphuraria.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein residual acid-pH resistant phycocyanins contained in the precipitate of step a) are solubilized in an aqueous solution of acid pH and separated from organic matter other than acid-pH-resistant phycocyanins and isolated by repeating steps b) and c).