Astaxanthin

Adaptative role of carotenoids and carotenoproteins in Cyclops kolensis Lilljeborg (Crustacea: Copepoda) specimens to extremely eutrophical conditions.

Czeczuga B, Kozlowska M, Czeczuga-Semeniuk E.

Department of General Biology, Medical University, Kilinskiego 1, 15-230 Bialystok 8, Poland.

The authors, using column, thin-layer, and ion-exchange chromatography, investigated carotenoid and carotenoprotein complex content in Cyclops kolensis specimens from an extremely eutrophic pond. The following carotenoids were found to be present: beta-carotene, beta-cryptoxanthin, lutein epoxide, crustaxanthin, 4'-hydroxyechinenone, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin. Carotenoprotein complex containing astaxanthin as the prosthetic group name gamma-crustacyanine was purified from Cyclops kolensis individuals examined. The authors justify the adaptative role of these pigments in Cyclops kolensis specimens in extremely eutrophical conditions.

PMID: 11291544 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]