ARS | Publication request: Production and conversion of functional carotenoids by bacteria

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: May 2, 2012
Publication Date: May 2, 2012
Citation: Hosokawa, M., Nishida, K., Sawabe, T., Miyashita, K., Hou, C.T. 2012. Production and conversion of functional carotenoids by bacteria [abstract]. American Oil Chemists' Society. Paper #BIO-7.

Technical Abstract: Carotenoids are red, orange, and yellow color pigments composed of isoprenyl units. They are well known to have beneficial health effects including anti-oxidant activity, anti-cardiovascular disease, and anti-cancer effects. These carotenoids are mainly synthesized in plants and photosynthetic algae and cyanobacteria, but not in animals. On the other hand, nonphototrophic microorganisms are observed infrequently producing carotenoids. By screening microbes, we isolated several pigmented bacteria which produce yellow, orange, and pink pigments. Among them, Algibacter lectus produced zeaxanthin at more than 95% of its crude extracts by HPLC analysis. Zeaxanthin is dihydroxy-form of ß-carotene. Zeaxanthin and lutein are normally found in human eye and prevents age-related muscular degeneration and light-induced photoreceptor cell death. The addition of glucose in the culture media increased Zeaxanthin production by Algibacter lectus however; the addition of sucrose or maltose decreased the production. We also succeeded in increasing lycopene and zeaxanthin production by mutation of Algibacter lectus treated with ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS).