The metabolism of β-carotene and other carotenoids in the brine shrimp, Artemia Salina L. (Crustacea: Branchiopoda)

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Abstract

  • 1.

    1. The only cartenoids present in the egges and freshly-hatched nauplii of Artemia salina are echinenone and canthaxanthin.

  • 2.

    2. A method for feeding pure carotenoids to carotenoid-depleted adult Artemia is described.

  • 3.

    3. Pure β-carotene is converted into echinonen and canthaxanthin by Artemia; the kinetics of changes in pigment composition after feeding suggest that echinenone is an intermediate in the conversion of β-carotene into canthaxanthine.

  • 4.

    4. Animals fed pure echinenone convert this into canthaxanthin.

  • 5.

    5. Canthaxanthin is the final product of these carotenoid transformations in Artemia; no intermediates in its formation, other than echinenone, were detected.

  • 6.

    6. Zeaxanthin is absorbed by the gut, but is not metabolized to yield ketocarotenoids.

  • 7.

    7. The results are discussed in the light of other studies on carotenoid distribution in the Branchiopoda, and their contribution to our understanding of the mechanism of ketocarotenoid formation is assessed.

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