A novel sequence for phytoene dehydrogenation in Rhodospirillum rubrum.
Differences between the absorption spectra of zeta-carotene (7,8,7',8'-tetrahydrolycopene) and the corresponding conjugated heptaene from diphenylamine-inhibited cultures of Rhodospirillum rubrum have been rationalized by the identification of the latter compound as the unsymmetrical isomer, 7,8,11,12-tetrahydrolycopene. The structures of the other conjugated polyene hydrocarbons, phytoene, phytofluene and neurosporene, have been confirmed and a novel pathway for the dehydrogenation of phytoene to lycopene in these bacteria is described.
D002338:Carotenoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012246:Rhodospirillum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
D002338:Carotenoids; D010649:Phenylalanine