STUDIES ON PIGMENTATION OF SERRATIA MARCESCENS II

Abstract

The pigments of S. marcescens were separated into 2 fractions by column paper chromatography. One fraction consisted of the single blue component. The other fraction contained the 3 red components. Infrared spectral data established that the blue and combined red components are similar but not identical substances. The infrared spectra of both components was similar to that of un-fractionated prodigiosin. Chemical analyses carried out on the hydrochloride salts of the 2 pigment fractions established that the blue fraction contained less chloride, but more N than the com-bined red fraction. The molecular weight of the blue component was 775 as determined by the Rast-Soltys cryoscopic method, whereas the molecular weight of the combined red was 460. The hypothesis was proposed that the blue component was formed by aggregation of the red components, and that the former pigment might be a dimer of the latter.