title: Carotenoids in marine invertebrates living along the Kuroshio current coast.
abstract: Carotenoids of the corals Acropora japonica, A. secale, and A. hyacinthus, the tridacnid clam Tridacna squamosa, the crown-of-thorns starfish Acanthaster planci, and the small sea snail Drupella fragum were investigated. The corals and the tridacnid clam are filter feeders and are associated with symbiotic zooxanthellae. Peridinin and pyrrhoxanthin, which originated from symbiotic zooxanthellae, were found to be major carotenoids in corals and the tridacnid clam. The crown-of-thorns starfish and the sea snail D. fragum are carnivorous and mainly feed on corals. Peridinin-3-acyl esters were major carotenoids in the sea snail D. fragum. On the other hand, ketocarotenoids such as 7,8-didehydroastaxanthin and astaxanthin were major carotenoids in the crown-of-thorns starfish. Carotenoids found in these marine animals closely reflected not only their metabolism but also their food chains.
authors: Research Institute for Production Development, 15 Shimogamo-morimoto-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0805, Japan.
authors: Takashi
authors: T
authors: Maoka
authors: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Yoshida-shimoadachi-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
authors: Naoshige
authors: N
authors: Akimoto
authors: Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Misasagi Yamashina-Ku, Kyoto 607-8412, Japan.
authors: Miyuki
authors: M
authors: Tsushima
authors: Osaka City Graduate School of Engineering and Faculty of Engineering, Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka 558-8585, Japan.
authors: Sadao
authors: S
authors: Komemushi
authors: Kuroshio Biological Research Foundation, Nishidomari-560, Ootsuki-cho, Kochi 788-0333, Japan.
authors: Takuma
authors: T
authors: Mezaki
authors: Kuroshio Biological Research Foundation, Nishidomari-560, Ootsuki-cho, Kochi 788-0333, Japan.
authors: Fumihito
authors: F
authors: Iwase
authors: Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nakamachi 3327-204, Nara-shi 631-8505, Nara, Japan.
authors: Yoshimitsu
authors: Y
authors: Takahashi
authors: Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nakamachi 3327-204, Nara-shi 631-8505, Nara, Japan.
authors: Naomi
authors: N
authors: Sameshima
authors: Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nakamachi 3327-204, Nara-shi 631-8505, Nara, Japan.
authors: Miho
authors: M
authors: Mori
authors: Faculty of Agriculture, Kinki University, Nakamachi 3327-204, Nara-shi 631-8505, Nara, Japan.
authors: Yoshikazu
authors: Y
authors: Sakagami
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry; D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000737:chemistry*; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000737:chemistry; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D020387:Food Chain; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D012758:Shellfish; D013215:Starfish / Q000737:chemistry; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D024341:Xanthophylls; D002338:Carotenoids; C005948:astaxanthine; C541232:7,8-didehydroastaxanthin