Abstract
Thin layer chromatography of the carotenoid pigments of stigmata isolated from light grown cells of Euglena gracilis strain Z resolved 29 compounds, of which 16 could be eluted and their absorption spectra recorded. Seven of these compounds were identified by a combination of co-chromatography with authentic compounds and by chemical tests, one of these compounds (β-carotene) was further identified by mass spectrometry. The major carotenoids were found to be β-carotene, diatoxanthin and diadinoxanthin which together comprised approximately 60% of the stigma pigments. In addition significant quantities of canthaxanthin, echinenone and cryptoxanthin were isolated and a possible carotenoid ester was detected. The results of this analysis are compared with those of previous workers and the significance of the findings is discussed.
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Abbreviations
- T.L.C.:
-
thin layer chromatography
- C:
-
Carotenoid
- L.P.:
-
Light petroleum
References
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Heelis, D.V., Kernick, W., Phillips, G.O. et al. Separation and identification of the carotenoid pigments of stigmata isolated from light-grown cells of Euglena gracilis strain Z. Arch. Microbiol. 121, 207–211 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425057
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00425057