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Studies in Carotenogenesis. Some Observations on Carotenoid Synthesis in Two Varieties of Euglena gracilis.
Author(s) -
GOODWIN T. W.,
JAMIKORN M.
Publication year - 1954
Publication title -
the journal of protozoology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.067
H-Index - 77
eISSN - 1550-7408
pISSN - 0022-3921
DOI - 10.1111/j.1550-7408.1954.tb00820.x
Subject(s) - euglena gracilis , neoxanthin , carotenoid , lutein , darkness , pigment , biology , botany , food science , chemistry , biochemistry , zeaxanthin , organic chemistry , chloroplast , gene
Euglena gracilis v. bacillaris and E. gracilis v. fuscopunctata produce the same three carotenoids, β‐carotene, lutein and neoxanthin in approximately the same relative amounts. Lutein is the major pigment and β‐carotene represents about 10–15% of the total. The concentration of carotenoids in E. gracilis v. bacillaris is very high, reaching 700 mg./100 g. dry weight. Streptomycin (0.02%, w/v) and darkness reduced growth of E. gracilis v. bacillaris by about 50% and carotenoid synthesis by about twenty times. Diphenylamine (1/70,000) reduced growth and carotenoid synthesis equally (about 50%). In no case was the synthesis of more saturated polyenes (the phytofluene series) stimulated. The nature of the eye spot pigment is discussed.