Effect of kinetin on the phycoerythrin and chlorophyll content of a red alga

A decline in R-phycoerythrin occurs in cultured branch apices of the red alga Hypnea musciformis. This decline is offset by kinetin, and studies with chloramphenicol suggest that chloroplast protein synthesis is a requirement for the kinetin effect. δ-Aminolevulinic acid also stimulates chloramphenicol-sensitive phycoerythrin synthesis. Kinetin treatment increases the levels of chlorophyll-a and soluble protein