The Biosynthesis of Astaxanthin-II

Abstract

1. The presence of β-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, α-doradecin, β-doradecin and astacin was confirmed in Benibuna and all of those carotenoids except β-carotene exist in the form of esters. 2. A possible biosynthetic pathway from lutein ester to astaxanthin ester is proposed in Benibuna and it is identical with that of gold fish. A portion of this work was supported by NIH grant AM 11665 from the National Institute of Health.