Astaxanthin

Astaxanthin accumulation in Haematococcus requires a cytochrome P450 hydroxylase and an active synthesis of fatty acids.

Schoefs B, Rmiki N, Rachadi J, Lemoine Y.

Plant Cytophysiology and Phycology, UPRES CNRS 8013, University of Lille 1, Villenueve d'Ascq, France. benoit.schoefs@ujf-grenoble.fr

Astaxanthin accumulation by green microalgae is a natural phenomenon known as red snows and blood rains. The fact that astaxanthin synthesis requires oxygen, NADPH and Fe(2+) led Cunningham and Gantt [Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 49 (1998) 557-583] to propose that a cytochrome P450-dependent enzyme might be involved in the transformation of beta-carotene to astaxanthin. In Haematococcus only esterified astaxanthin molecules accumulate, but it is not determined whether a fatty acid synthesis should occur simultaneously to allow pigment accumulation. The aim of this contribution was to answer these two questions using specific inhibitors of beta-carotene (norflurazon) and fatty acid (cerulenin) synthesis, and of cytochrome P450 enzyme activity (ellipticine).

PMID: 11445069 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]