Minor carotenoid components in the chloroplasts of higher plants

摘要

One-dimensional thin layer chromatography with microcrystalline cellulose was used for the separation of minor carotenoid components in spinach, parsley andBrassicachloroplasts. It was revealed that chloroplasts of these plants contain two minor xanthophyll components besides carotenes, lutein, violaxanthin and neoxanthin. These minor components, designated as xanthophyll−443 and−439, were different in spectral properties from antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin which are known to be present in the chloroplasts of some higher plants, and evidence was obtained showing that xanthophyll−439 has an epoxy group. Spectral properties of these xanthophylls in benzene, ethanol, H-hexane and carbon disulfide, as well as their contents relative to other carotenoids, are presented in this