The Biosynthesis of Astaxanthin-VIII

Abstract

To clarify the metabolic pathway from β-carotene to astaxanthin which was proposed in this thesis series, the present investigation was undertaken. Astaxanthin is the dominant pigment in prawn, Penaeus japonicus Bate. Prawn were cultured in the laboratory for 21 days by feeding artificial food containing labelled β-carotene-15, 15'-3H2 dissolved in plant oil. In prawn, β-carotene-15, 15'-3H2 was converted to labelled astaxanthin via echinenone, canthaxanthin and phoenicoxanthin. The metabolic pathway from β-carotene to astaxanthin in prawn is as follows: β-carotine-→echinenone-→canthaxanthin-→phoenicoxanthin-→astaxanthin