Identification and spectroscopic characterization of neurosporene

Neurosporene is a carotene and an intermediate in the synthesis of lycopene from phytoene. Its content in carotenogenic organisms is very low; hence, the complete assignments of its spectroscopic data, including NMR, are insufficient.

A purple bacterium of Rhodobacter sphaeroides G1C mutant had only one carotenoid. This carotenoid was extracted and purified using silica gel, DEAE-Toyopearl and C18-HPLC columns. It was identified using its absorption spectra, mass spectra, and (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectra, including two-dimensional spectral analyses.

The major carotenoid in the Rhodobacter sphaeroides G1C mutant was identified as neurosporene (7,8-dihydro-ψ,ψ-carotene) using spectroscopic measurements, including complete assignments of its (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectral data.