title: A mutant of the green alga Dunaliella salina constitutively accumulates zeaxanthin under all growth conditions.
abstract: A novel mutant (zea1) of the halotolerant unicellular green alga Dunaliella salina is impaired in the zeaxanthin epoxidation reaction, thereby lacking a number of the beta-branch xanthophylls. HPLC analysis revealed that the zea1 mutant lacks neoxanthin (N), violaxanthin (V) and antheraxanthin (A) but constitutively accumulates zeaxanthin (Z). Under low-light physiological growth conditions, the zea1 (6 mg Z per g dry weight or 8 x 10(-16) mol Z/cell) had a substantially higher Z content than the wild type (0.2 mg Z per g dry weight or 0.5 x 10(-16) mol Z/cell). Lack of N, V, and A did not affect photosynthesis or growth of the zea1 strain. Biochemical analyses suggested that Z constitutively and quantitatively substitutes for N, V, and A in the zea1 strain. This mutant is discussed in terms of its commercial value and potential utilization by the algal biotechnology industry for the production of zeaxanthin, a high-value bioproduct.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, 111 Koshland Hall, University of California, Berkeley 94720-3102, USA.
authors.forename: EonSeon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Feth
authors.forename: Anastasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melis
mesh_terms: D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D016296:Mutagenesis; D010788:Photosynthesis; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D024341:Xanthophylls; D065146:Zeaxanthins; D019207:beta Carotene