Absorption, Steady-State Fluorescence and Solvent Effect Studies of Fluorescent Haloarchaeal Bacterioruberin

Abstract

Fluorescence characterization of halophilic archaeal C50 carotenoid–bacterioruberin extracts was investigated using UV/Vis and steady-state fluorescence spectrophotometry in solvents with different polarity. Different extracts showed maximum absorption and fluorescence wavelengths between 369–536 nm and 540–569 nm. Stokes’ shifts varied between 50–79 nm depending on the solvent. In particular, water extract showed significant Stokes' shifts with the increase in polarity index; however, fluorescence wavelength (band position) and shape were found to be independent of polarity. According to the obtained results, it is thought that bacterioruberin will be a new alternative material with increasing applications in optics, biosensor/chemosensor, biotechnology, analytical chemistry and nanotechnology due to its fluorescence properties.