Carotenoid Distribution in Living Cells of Haematococcus pluvialis
Author Information
Author(s): Collins Aaron M., Jones Howland D. T., Han Danxiang, Hu Qiang, Beechem Thomas E., Timlin Jerilyn A.
Primary Institution: Sandia National Laboratories
Hypothesis
Is β-carotene a precursor for astaxanthin and does its synthesis occur outside the chloroplast?
Conclusion
The study provides evidence that β-carotene is a precursor for astaxanthin and that its synthesis occurs outside the chloroplast in lipid vesicles.
Supporting Evidence
- Astaxanthin can reach up to 4% of the total cellular dry weight.
- Chlorophyll emission was found only in the chloroplast.
- β-carotene was identified in both the chloroplast and cytosol.
- Astaxanthin was concentrated towards the cell center and absent in chlorophyll-containing regions.
Takeaway
This study shows that a tiny green algae can make a special red pigment called astaxanthin, and it uses another pigment called β-carotene to do it, which happens outside the part of the cell that usually makes food.
Methodology
The researchers used confocal Raman microscopy and multivariate analysis to study the distribution of carotenoids in living cells.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website