Monday's Molecule #158

 

This molecule is responsible for one of the distinguishing features of an entire group of species. Sadly, most undergraduates have never heard of this molecule and they never study the fundamental process that it represents. In my experience, about 90% of all introductory biochemistry courses skip the relevant chapter(s) in the textbooks. There's no reasonable excuse for that omission. It's just bad teaching.

Identify the molecule—the common name will do. Post your answer in the comments. I'll hold off releasing any comments for 24 hours. The first one with the correct answer wins. I will only post correct answers to avoid embarrassment.

There could be two winners. If the first correct answer isn't from an undergraduate student then I'll select a second winner from those undergraduates who post the correct answer. You will need to identify yourself as an undergraduate in order to win. (Put "undergraduate" at the bottom of your comment.)

Some past winners are from distant lands so their chances of taking up my offer of a free lunch are slim. (That's why I can afford to do this!)

In order to win you must post your correct name. Anonymous and pseudoanonymous commenters can't win the free lunch.

Winners will have to contact me by email to arrange a lunch date.

UPDATE: The molecule is phycocyanobilin the light absorbing pigment in cyanobacteria (and some other species). This blue pigment is found in large structures called phycobilosomes and it is the reason why cyanobacteria were called blue-green algae. The winners are Thomas Ferraro and Charles Motraghi (undergraduate).

Winners
Nov. 2009: Jason Oakley, Alex Ling
Oct. 17: Bill Chaney, Roger Fan
Oct. 24: DK
Oct. 31: Joseph C. Somody
Nov. 7: Jason Oakley
Nov. 15: Thomas Ferraro, Vipulan Vigneswaran
Nov. 21: Vipulan Vigneswaran (honorary mention to Raul A. Félix de Sousa)
Nov. 28: Philip Rodger
Dec. 5: 凌嘉誠 (Alex Ling)
Dec. 12: Bill Chaney
Dec. 19: Joseph C. Somody
Jan. 9: Dima Klenchin
Jan. 23: David Schuller
Jan. 30: Peter Monaghan

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