title: Carotenoids of sea angels Clione limacina and Paedoclione doliiformis from the perspective of the food chain.
abstract: Sea angels, Clione limacina and Paedoclione doliiformis, are small, floating sea slugs belonging to Gastropoda, and their gonads are a bright orange-red color. Sea angels feed exclusively on a small herbivorous sea snail, Limacina helicina. Carotenoids in C. limacina, P. doliiformis, and L. helicina were investigated for comparative biochemical points of view. β-Carotene, zeaxanthin, and diatoxanthin were found to be major carotenoids in L. helicina. L. helicina accumulated dietary algal carotenoids without modification. On the other hand, keto-carotenoids, such as pectenolone, 7,8-didehydroastaxanthin, and adonixanthin were identified as major carotenoids in the sea angels C. limacina and P. doliiformis. Sea angels oxidatively metabolize dietary carotenoids and accumulate them in their gonads. Carotenoids in the gonads of sea angels might protect against oxidative stress and enhance reproduction.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Production Development, Shimogamo-Morimoto-cho 15, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-0805, Japan. maoka@mbox.kyoto-inet.or.jp.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maoka
authors.affiliation: Okhotsk Sea Ice Museum of Hokkaido, Motomombetsu, Monbetsu, Hokkaido 094-0023, Japan. kanri1@giza-ryuhyo.com.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwahara
authors.affiliation: Hokkaido Research Organization, Abashiri Fisheries Research Institute, Minatomachi, Monbetsu, Hokkaido 094-0011, Japan. narita-masanao@hro.or.jp.
authors.forename: Masanao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Narita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002338:Carotenoids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism; D020387:Food Chain; D049851:Gastropoda / Q000737:chemistry*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D017685:Oncorhynchus keta; D012908:Snails; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D002338:Carotenoids