CAROTENOID METABOLISM IN COMMENSAL CRAB PINNOTHERES PISUM

1. 1. Among the pigments of the brachyuran Pinnotheres pisum investigated, β-carotene, echinenone, a monohydroxy monoketo β-carotene, canthaxanthin, astaxanthin ester, lutein and alloxanthin were isolated and identified. 2. 2. β-Carotene, lutein and alloxanthin predominated. All three may well have been assimilated directly from the algal food of the crab. No other pigments were found which are common to P. pisum and to the majority of algae. 3. 3. Oxidation of β-carotene to astaxanthin is discussed in relation to this work, and to other recent studies on invertebrates and certain vertebrates. © 1969.