The genetics and molecular biology of carotenoid biosynthesis in mucorales
- Catalina Sanz
- Mahdi Shahriari
- Arturo P. Eslava
ISBN: 978-1-57808-787-7
Año de publicación: 2012
Páginas: 21-52
Tipo: Capítulo de Libro
Resumen
Carotenoids are one of the most diverse and widely distributed groups of natural pigments including more than 600 coloured compounds. Carotenoids are synthesized by most photosynthetic organisms like cyanobacteria, algae and plants and some non-photosynthetic. Such as certain fungi, yeasts and bacteria. Animals and humans cannot synthesize them and acquire them through diet. These lipid compounds are soluble in various organic solvents and in plants are mainly located in membranes, where they are normally associated with proteins being part of the antenna complexes along with chlorophyll. Carotenoids are very sensitive to oxidation by light or oxygen in the air and to heat that causes cis-trans isomerization.