Abstract: Phycobiliproteins, with phycobilin chromophores covalently linked to apoprotein, are main components of light-harvesting antenna complexes in cyanobacteria, red algae and some cryptophyte algae. Similar to chlorophyll protein complexes, phycobiliproteins are responsible for absorption and transfer of light energy in the initial stage of photosynthesis. Pigment-protein complexes are compared, and characterized in this review. Noteworthy developments and our recent works are discussed. A protocol for extracting phycobiliproteins without damaging algal cells is proposed.