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Carotenoids and carotenoid metabolism in Carcinus maenas (Crustacea: Decapoda)
Author(s) -
Gilchrist Barbara M.,
Lee W. L.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
journal of zoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.915
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1469-7998
pISSN - 0952-8369
DOI - 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1967.tb02108.x
Subject(s) - carcinus maenas , astaxanthin , canthaxanthin , biology , carotenoid , hepatopancreas , crustacean , decapoda , pigment , zeaxanthin , lutein , xanthophyll , botany , zoology , biochemistry , chemistry , organic chemistry
The carotenoid pigments of the hepatopancreas, ovaries and epidermis of Carcinus maenas were investigated. The following pigments were identified: β‐carotene, δ‐carotene, echinenone, isocryptoxanthin, canthaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, flavoxanthin and astacene. The relative abundance of these pigments in the three tissues and the presence of possible hydroxy and keto intermediates suggest the metabolism of astaxanthin from β‐carotene. The metabolic pathway in Carcinus is discussed in relation to recent studies on other invertebrates.