Phytocyanins function

Putative functions of phytocyanins based on literature data published over the past few years can be grouped into three different categories ... 

Interestingly, plant AGPs have been also impbcated in cellular processes that are identical to those described above for phytocyanins (Noth-nagel, 1997). As we have already mentioned, most phytocyanins in their mature form are predicted to be composed of a BCB domain and a domain with sequence characteristics reminiscent of those of described for AGPs. Thus, phytocyanins are interesting examples of the recently developed Rosetta stone sequence concept, which postulates that when two different proteins also occur in parallel as a fused, larger composite protein, it is an indication that they are functionally related and may even physically interact (Eisenberg et al., 2000 Marcotte, 2000). 

The physiological functions of the phytocyanins are also currently unknown. This family of proteins consists of stellacyanin (20 kD) [97, 101], umecyanin (14 kD), the basic blue protein (from cucumber = plantacyanin) (8 kD), and cusacyanin (molecular masses see [17]). 

Phytocyanins are a family of blue copper proteins found exclusively in plants.They are further classified into three subfamilies plantacyanins (PNC), stellacyanins (STC), and uclacya-nins (UCC)." Spectroscopic properties of uclacyanins are closer to those of blue copper centers and thus they were covered in Section 8.4.2.3. The function of phytocyanins has not been determined conclusively. 

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