BIOSYNTHESIS OF YEAST CAROTENOIDS

Simpson, Kenneth L. (University of California, Davis), T. O. M. Nakayama, and C. O. Chichester. Biosynthesis of yeast carotenoids. J. Bacteriol. 88:1688-1694. 1964.-The biosynthesis of carotenoids was followed in Rhodotorula glutinis and in a new strain, 62-506. The treatment of the growing cultures by methylheptenone, or ionone, vapors permitted observations of the intermediates in the biosynthetic pathway. On the basis of concentration changes and accumulation in blocked pathways, the sequence of carotenoid formation is postulated as phytoene, phytofluene, zeta-carotene, neurosporene, beta-zeacarotene, gamma-carotene, torulin, a C(40) aldehyde, and torularhodin. Torulin and torularhodin were established as the main carotenoids of 62-506.