This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hsieh, L. K. Articles by Simpson, K. L. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hsieh, L. K. Articles by Simpson, K. L.

Biosynthesis of Carotenoids in Brevibacterium sp. KY-4313¹

^a Department of Food and Resource Chemistry, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881

ABSTRACT

The biosynthesis of 4-keto and 4,4'-diketo carotenoids in Brevibacterium sp. KY-4313 was studied. Echinenone and canthaxanthin were isolated from the cultures grown on a medium containing several n-alkanes. When glutathione was added to the bacterial cultures, the formation of canthaxanthin was inhibited while ß-carotene and its hydroxy derivatives accumulated. It is suggested that these 4-hydroxy compounds, isocryptoxanthin, isozeaxanthin, and 4-hydroxy-4'-keto-ß-carotene, are intermediates in the biosynthesis of canthaxanthin. In the presence of 2-(4-chlorophenylthio)-triethylamine hydrochloride or nicotine, lycopene and neurosporene accumulated. The ß-carotene level decreased slightly but ß-zeacarotene remained unchanged. ß-carotene and its derivatives were resynthesized upon removal of the inhibitors. It was concluded that cyclization can take place at either the neurosporene or lycopene level in Brevibacterium sp. KY-4313.

² Present address: Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago, Ill. 60612.

¹ Contribution no. 1481 of the University of Rhode Island Agricultural Experiment Station.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Bouvier, F., Backhaus, R. A., Camara, B. (1998). Induction and Control of Chromoplast-specific Carotenoid Genes by Oxidative Stress. J. Biol. Chem. 273: 30651-30659 [Abstract] [Full Text]