Abstract
A β-carotene oxygenase is described which occurs in the Cyanobacterium Microcystis. It cleaves β-carotene and zeaxanthin specifically at the positions 7,8 and 7′,8′, while echinenone and myxoxanthophyll are not affected. The oxidative cleavage of β-carotene leads to the formation of β-cyclocitral and crocetindial and that of zeaxanthin to hydroxy-β-cyclocitral and crocetindial in nearly stoichiometric amounts. Oxidant is dioxygen as has been demonstrated by high incroporation (86%) of 18O2 into β-cyclocitral. β-Carotene oxygenase is membrane bound, sensitive to sulfhydryl reagents, antioxidants and chelating agents. Iron seems to be an essential part of the enzyme activity. Cofactors necessary for the reaction could not be detected.
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Abbreviations
- TLC:
-
thin layer-chromatography
- PIPES:
-
piperazine-N,N′-bis-(2-ethanesulfonate) Na
- TES:
-
2{[tris-(hydroxymethyl)-methyl]-amino} ethanesulfonic acid
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Dedicated to Professor G. Drews on occasion of his 60th birthday
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Jüttner, F., Höflacher, B. Evidence of β-carotene 7,8(7′,8′) oxygenase (β-cyclocitral, crocetindial generating) in Microcystis . Arch. Microbiol. 141, 337–343 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428846
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00428846