Structure of commelinin, a blue complex pigment from the blue flowers of Commelina communis

The X-ray crystal structure of natural commelinin is investigated. The results demonstrate that commelinin is a tetranuclear (4 Mg2+) metal complex, in which two Mg2+ ions chelate to six anthocyanin molecules, while the other two Mg2+ ions bind to six flavone molecules, stabilizing the commelinin complex, a new type of supramolecular complex.