Natural occurrence of enantiomeric and Meso astaxanthin 7∗-crustaceans including zooplankton

“…Similary, other investigators have found that astaxanthin is deposited mainly as esters and not free astaxanthin in many crustaceans, particularly during ontogenetic development (Yamada et al 1990, Petit et al 1991, Dall et al 1995, resulting in the predominance (~60 to 90%) of astaxanthin esters in the adults of many crustaceans (Yamaguchi et al 1983, Coral-Hinostroza & Bjerkeng 2002 including calanoid copepods (Foss et al 1987, Juhl et al 1996, Andersson et al 2003 Fig. 4.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 61%

Astaxanthin in the calanoid copepod Calanus helgolandicus: dynamics of esterification and vertical distribution in the German Bight, North Sea

Sommer¹,

Agurto²,

Henriksen³

et al. 2006

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Zooplankton synthesise astaxanthin, a carotenoid pigment believed to protect against high-energy irradiance, from precursors in their diet. Different patterns of astaxanthin vertical distribution would be expected from the benefits of photoprotection, the costs of visual predation and the availability of food. Despite a highly resolved sampling approach (4 m depth intervals), no clear pattern of vertical distribution or correlation with chlorophyll a concentrations was found for Calanus helgolandicus astaxanthin concentrations in the German Bight. This may be attributable to photochromatic adaptation in phytoplankton, diurnal rhythms of copepod grazing and, particularly, vertical migration. A 2 × 2 factorial (light × food) experiment showed that total astaxanthin concentrations in C. helgolandicus were entirely determined by the dynamics of esterified astaxanthin. As expected, the concentrations of astaxanthin esters decreased in starved individuals in the dark, while the combined presence of food and light resulted in an increase of esterified astaxanthin. Similar levels of esterified astaxanthin were maintained in both starving individuals exposed to light and feeding individuals in the dark. The latter implies that astaxanthin esterification is per se a process independent of light, although light exposure enhances it. It is proposed that the function of astaxanthin esters is to generally improve the antioxidant protection of storage lipids, also in situations where photoprotection is not required.

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“…This is typical for crustaceans; reported ester proportions are usually higher in copepods than in our samples (. 45%; Van Nieuwerburgh et al 2005), and in krill up to 96% can be esterified (Foss et al 1987). In the gastrointestinal tract of fish, the esters are hydrolyzed before being absorbed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why Baltic herring and sprat are weak conduits for astaxanthin from zooplankton to piscivorous fish

Nie

Zie

Häubner

et al. 2011

Limnology & Oceanography

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Atlantic salmon living in the brackish Baltic Sea have lower muscle pigmentation than populations elsewhere. The pigment in question is the antioxidant and vitamin A precursor astaxanthin, which is synthesized by crustaceans from algal carotenoids. Baltic salmon feed nearly exclusively on the clupeids sprat and herring. To evaluate astaxanthin availability to salmon we assessed astaxanthin levels and isomeric composition in their prey fish. We also analyzed astaxanthin dynamics in the dominant piscivorous fish in the Baltic Sea, the Atlantic cod.The geometrical E-(trans-) and Z-(cis-) isomers were distributed selectively in fish tissues, with highest E : Z ratios in salmon gonads (82 : 18) and lowest in herring gonads (24 : 76). Sprat and herring are not ideal prey with respect to their high whole-body concentrations of Z-isomers, which have low bioavailability for salmon and cod. These Z-isomers predominantly accumulate in the clupeid gonads. A crucial mechanism for the transport of astaxanthin from clupeids to piscivores is the direct transfer of crustacean astaxanthin (mainly all-E) from the clupeid stomachs. Low stomach astaxanthin content in clupeids decreases total astaxanthin transfer to higher trophic levels. In autumn, herring stomachs (including contents) had 12.5 times lower astaxanthin concentrations than sprat stomachs, and herring had 2.8 times less whole-body all-E-astaxanthin (by weight) than sprat. These results confirm recent reports of starvation in the Baltic herring, which may further decrease astaxanthin levels in the Baltic salmon. Cod did not have lower astaxanthin levels than their Atlantic counterpart, which may be attributed to their lower need for astaxanthin and higher food diversity.

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Natural occurrence of enantiomeric and Meso astaxanthin 7∗-crustaceans including zooplankton

Cited by 43 publications

References 10 publications

Preparation of (3R, 3′R)-astaxanthin monoester and (3R, 3′R)-astaxanthin from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

Preparation of (3R, 3′R)-astaxanthin monoester and (3R, 3′R)-astaxanthin from Antarctic krill (Euphausia superba Dana)

Astaxanthin in the calanoid copepod Calanus helgolandicus: dynamics of esterification and vertical distribution in the German Bight, North Sea

Why Baltic herring and sprat are weak conduits for astaxanthin from zooplankton to piscivorous fish

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