The phycobilisome core-membrane linkers from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and red-algae assemble in the same topology.

The phycobilisomes (PBSs) of cyanobacteria and red-algae are unique megadaltons light-harvesting protein-pigment complexes that utilize bilin derivatives for light absorption and energy transfer. Recently, the high-resolution molecular structures of red-algal PBSs revealed how the multi-domain core-membrane linker (L ) specifically organizes the allophycocyanin subunits in the PBS's core. But, the topology of L in these structures was different than that suggested for cyanobacterial PBSs based on lower-resolution structures.