These pigments are water soluble and are dissolved in the cell sap in the vacuole. Thus, they are a good marker to observe the size of the vacuole. There are 15 different anthocyanins in red cabbage. Most have the basic cyanidin skeleton to which are attached various groups including glucose, coumarin, ferulic acid, and sinapic acids. Anthocyanins are pH sensitive.
Anthocyanin synthesis requires light.
In this lab, we will isolate and purify protoplasts from red cabbage and examine them in the microscope. If time we will examine the properties and the viability of the protoplasts. We will then spectrophotometrically determine the anthocyanin content of the red cabbage protoplasts. To accomplish this task we will need to determine the protoplast volume with an ocular micrometer and quantify protoplast numbers in our preparation using a hemocytometer. At the completion of the lab experience write an abstract summarizing the main activities of the lab.