Carotenoid de-epoxidations in algae

Abstract

The carotenoid pigments of Euglena gracilis were studied following illumination of the cells under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Cells harvested from cultures in the stationary phase displayed a photochemical conversion of epoxide carotenoids to non-epoxide pigments under anaerobic conditions. This reaction was reversed in the dark and could be inhibited by aerobiosis. Analysis of the individual pigments indicated that the following reaction was occurring:

Carotenes, neoxanthin and trollein remained essentially unchanged under these conditions.