Chapter 2
Carotenoids in Phototrophic Microalgae:
Distributions and Biosynthesis
Shinichi Takaichi
Abstract Phototrophic organisms necessarily synthesize not only carotenoids but
also chlorophylls for photosynthesis. Phototrophic microalgae are usually single-cell
organisms; however, as the pigment compositions of both single-cell and macrophytic types are almost identical, both are included in this chapter. Further, many
kinds of carotenoids have been identified and, recently, taxonomic studies of algae
have been developed. In this review, the relationship between the distributions of
carotenoids and the phylogeny of oxygenic phototrophs, including cyanobacteria,
red algae, brown algae, and green algae, in sea and fresh water is summarized. These
phototrophs contain division- or class-specific carotenoids, such as fucoxanthin, peridinin, diadinoxanthin, and siphonaxanthin. Carotenogenic pathways are discussed
in terms of the chemical structures of carotenoids and known characteristics of the
enzymes involved with carotenogenesis in other organisms, as the algal genes and
enzymes associated with carotenogenesis have not yet been identified. Additionally,
some procedures for the general identification of carotenoids are outlined.
Keywords Algal phylogeny · Biosynthesis of carotenoids · Chlorophyll ·
Distribution of carotenoids
2.1 Introduction
Phototrophic algae are found in many divisions of the Plant Kingdom. Their sizes
range from the single cells of picophytoplankton to macrophytic seaweeds. Attempts
have long been made to cultivate single-cell algae for a long time, with limited
success. However, with the recent development of culture techniques, some singlecell species can now be cultured so that their characteristics, including pigment
composition, can be studied. With the development of taxonomic technology that
includes the use of DNA base sequences of 16S or 18S rRNA and some genes, the
understanding of algal phylogenetics underwent recent advantages (Takaichi 2011).
S. Takaichi (B)
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of
Agriculture, Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
e-mail: ShinTakaichi@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
E. Jacob-Lopes et al. (eds.), Pigments from Microalgae Handbook,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50971-2_2
19
Carotenoids in Phototrophic Microalgae:
Distributions and Biosynthesis
Shinichi Takaichi
Abstract Phototrophic organisms necessarily synthesize not only carotenoids but
also chlorophylls for photosynthesis. Phototrophic microalgae are usually single-cell
organisms; however, as the pigment compositions of both single-cell and macrophytic types are almost identical, both are included in this chapter. Further, many
kinds of carotenoids have been identified and, recently, taxonomic studies of algae
have been developed. In this review, the relationship between the distributions of
carotenoids and the phylogeny of oxygenic phototrophs, including cyanobacteria,
red algae, brown algae, and green algae, in sea and fresh water is summarized. These
phototrophs contain division- or class-specific carotenoids, such as fucoxanthin, peridinin, diadinoxanthin, and siphonaxanthin. Carotenogenic pathways are discussed
in terms of the chemical structures of carotenoids and known characteristics of the
enzymes involved with carotenogenesis in other organisms, as the algal genes and
enzymes associated with carotenogenesis have not yet been identified. Additionally,
some procedures for the general identification of carotenoids are outlined.
Keywords Algal phylogeny · Biosynthesis of carotenoids · Chlorophyll ·
Distribution of carotenoids
2.1 Introduction
Phototrophic algae are found in many divisions of the Plant Kingdom. Their sizes
range from the single cells of picophytoplankton to macrophytic seaweeds. Attempts
have long been made to cultivate single-cell algae for a long time, with limited
success. However, with the recent development of culture techniques, some singlecell species can now be cultured so that their characteristics, including pigment
composition, can be studied. With the development of taxonomic technology that
includes the use of DNA base sequences of 16S or 18S rRNA and some genes, the
understanding of algal phylogenetics underwent recent advantages (Takaichi 2011).
S. Takaichi (B)
Department of Molecular Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tokyo University of
Agriculture, Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan
e-mail: ShinTakaichi@gmail.com
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
E. Jacob-Lopes et al. (eds.), Pigments from Microalgae Handbook,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50971-2_2
19