Determination of carotenoid as the purple pigment in Gorgonia ventalina sclerites using Raman microscopy.
The production of purple pigment in gorgonian sclerites in response to biotic insults has been used to determine the disease state of these organisms. The chemical nature of the pigment present in the sclerites has until now been unknown. Using Raman microscopy, it was determined that this pigment is a carotenoid with a polyene chain containing between 14 and 15 carbon double bonds.
Leverette
Chad L
CL
Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of South Carolina Aiken, Aiken, SC 29801, USA.
Warren
Melissa
M
Smith
Marie-Ange
MA
Smith
Garriet W
GW
D000825:Animal Structures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000032:analysis*; D004530:Egg Yolk; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000032:analysis*; D013059:Spectrum Analysis, Raman; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000032:analysis
D010860:Pigments, Biological; D024341:Xanthophylls; D002338:Carotenoids