Abstract.
The major carotenoid pigments of an Antarctic psychrotolerant bacterium, Sphingobacterium antarcticus, and a mesophilic bacterium, Sphingobacterium multivorum, were identified as zeaxanthin, β-cryptoxanthin, and β-carotene. Analysis was based on ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, mass spectroscopy, and reversed-phase HPLC. Photoacoustic spectroscopy of intact bacterial cells revealed that the bulk of the pigments in S. antarcticus and S. multivorum was associated with the cell membrane. In vitro studies with synthetic membranes of phosphatidylcholine demonstrated that the major pigment was bound to the membranes and decreased their fluidity. The relative amounts of polar pigments were higher in cells grown at 5 °C than in cells grown at 25 °C. In the mesophilic strain, the synthesis of polar carotenoids was quantitatively less than that of the psychrotolerant strain.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Electronic Publication
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jagannadham, M., Chattopadhyay, M., Subbalakshmi, C. et al. Carotenoids of an Antarctic psychrotolerant bacterium, Sphingobacterium antarcticus, and a mesophilic bacterium, Sphingobacterium multivorum . Arch. Microbiol. 173, 418–424 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002030000163
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002030000163