Studies in carotenogenesis. 21. The nature of the changes in the carotenoid synthesis in Rhodospirillum rubrum during growth

Abstract

Carotenoids present in young R. rubrum cultures are lycopene (rhodopurpurene), spirilloxanthin, lycoxanthin (rhodopin), demethylated spirilloxanthin, pigments P481 and hydroxy-P481 (? rhodovibrin). The relative amounts of constituent pigments present in cultures of various ages are given. Spirilloxanthin gradually increases during growing period while all other components reach a maximum at about 24 hours and tnen decline, some being completely absent from 72-to 96-hour cultures.