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J Bacteriol. 1970 July; 103(1): 191-198
Copyright © 1970 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Carotenoid Formation by Staphylococcus aureus

Department of Biochemistry, University of Kentucky Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky, 40506

ABSTRACT

The carotenoid pigments of Staphylococcus aureus U-71 were identified as phytoene; -carotene; -carotene; phytofluenol; a phytofluenol-like carotenoid, rubixanthin; and three rubixanthin-like carotenoids after extraction, saponification, chromatographic separation, and determination of their absorption spectra. There was no evidence of carotenoid esters or glycoside ethers in the extract before saponification. During the aerobic growth cycle the total carotenoids increased from 45 to 1,000 nmoles per g (dry weight), with the greatest increases in the polar, hydroxylated carotenoids. During the anaerobic growth cycle, the total carotenoids increased from 20 nmoles per g (dry weight) to 80 nmoles per g (dry weight), and only traces of the polar carotenoids were formed. Light had no effect on carotenoid synthesis. About 0.14% of the mevalonate-2-¹⁴C added to the culture was incorporated into the carotenoids during each bacterial doubling. The total carotenoids did not lose radioactivity when grown in the absence of ¹⁴C for 2.5 bacterial doublings. The total carotenoids did not lose radioactivity when grown in the absence of ¹⁴C for 2.5 bacterial doublings. The incorporation and turnover of ¹⁴C indicated the carotenes were sequentially desaturated and hydroxylated to form the polar carotenoids.

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