title: Pigmentation and spectral absorbance signatures in deep-water corals from the Trondheimsfjord, Norway.
abstract: The pigmentation and corresponding in vivo and in vitro absorption characteristics in three different deep-water coral species: white and orange Lophelia pertusa, Paragorgia arborea and Primnoa resedaeformis, collected from the Trondheimsfjord are described. Pigments were isolated and characterized by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis and High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Time-Of-Flight Mass Spectrometer (LC-TOF MS). The main carotenoids identified for all three coral species were astaxanthin and a canthaxanthin-like carotenoid. Soft tissue and skeleton of orange L. pertusa contained 2 times more astaxanthin g(-1) wet weight compared to white L. pertusa. White and orange L. pertusa were characterized with in vivo absorbance peaks at 409 and 473 nm, respectively. In vivo absorbance maxima for P. arborea and P. resedaeformis was typically at 475 nm. The shapes of the absorbance spectra (400-700 nm) were species-specific, indicated by in vivo, in vitro and the corresponding difference spectra. The results may provide important chemotaxonomic information for pigment when bonded to their proteins in vivo, bio-prospecting, and for in situ identification, mapping and monitoring of corals.
authors: Trondheim Biological Station, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.
authors: Anette C
authors: AC
authors: Elde
authors: Trondheim Biological Station, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.
authors: Ragnhild
authors: R
authors: Pettersen
authors: Department of Bio-Technology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Sem Sælands vei 8, Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Bruheim
authors: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Trondheim NO-7485, Norway.
authors: Johanna
authors: J
authors: Järnegren
authors: Trondheim Biological Station, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim NO-7491, Norway.|The University Centre on Svalbard (UNIS), P.O. Box 156, Longyearbyen NO-9171, Norway.
authors: Geir
authors: G
authors: Johnsen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D016644:Canthaxanthin / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid / Q000379:methods; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D009664:Norway; D010858:Pigmentation; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D010860:Pigments, Biological; D024341:Xanthophylls; D014867:Water; D002338:Carotenoids; D016644:Canthaxanthin; C005948:astaxanthine