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Visualization of astaxanthin localization in HT29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells by combined confocal resonance Raman and fluorescence microspectroscopy
Author(s) -
Briviba Karlis,
Bornemann Rainer,
Lemmer Ulrich
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
molecular nutrition and food research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.495
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1613-4133
pISSN - 1613-4125
DOI - 10.1002/mnfr.200600056
Subject(s) - astaxanthin , confocal , cytoplasm , fluorescence , carotenoid , chemistry , confocal microscopy , raman microspectroscopy , raman spectroscopy , biophysics , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , physics , optics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
Astaxanthin, a carotenoid found in plants and seafood, exhibits antiproliferative, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. We show that astaxanthin delivered with tetrahydrofuran is effectively taken up by cultured colon adenocarcinoma cells and is localized mostly in the cytoplasm as detected by confocal resonance Raman and broad‐band fluorescence microspectroscopy image analysis. Cells incubated with β‐carotene at the same concentration as astaxanthin (10 μM) showed about a 50‐fold lower cellular amount of β‐carotene, as detected by HPLC. No detectable Raman signal of β‐carotene was found in cells, but a weak broad‐band fluorescence signal of β‐carotene was observed. β‐Carotene, like astaxanthin, was localized mostly in the cytoplasm. The heterogeneity of astaxanthin and β‐carotene cellular distribution in cells of intestinal origin suggests that the possible defense against reactive molecules by carotenoids in these cells may also be heterogeneous.