Lycopene accumulation and cyclic carotenoid deficiency in heterotrophic Chlorella treated with nicotine.
We studied the effects of nicotine on Chlorella regularis Y-21 grown under heterotrophic conditions. Nicotine repressed growth, doubled cell size, and changed the culture coloration from dark-green to orange. These effects are likely due to the change of the chloroplast into a red irregular vesicle. This morphological change was associated with alteration of the carotenoid composition. Lycopene accounted for more than 80% of total carotenoids in nicotine-treated cells. The red irregular vesicles had a high electron density; we supposed them to be immature chloroplasts accumulating lycopene.
Ishikawa
Eiji
E
Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research, 1796 Yaho, Kunitachi-shi, Tokyo, 186-8650, Japan. eiji-ishikawa@yakult.co.jp
Abe
Hiroshi
H
D002338:Carotenoids / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002708:Chlorella / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002734:Chlorophyll / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D000077276:Lycopene; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D009538:Nicotine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D002734:Chlorophyll; D002338:Carotenoids; D009538:Nicotine; D000077276:Lycopene