THE FUNCTION OF CAROTENOIDS IN A PHOTOCHROMOGENIC BACTERIUM* |
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| Authors: | L. J. Wright,&dagger H. C. Rilling |
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| Affiliation: | Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Utah, College of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah |
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| Abstract: | Abstract— The role of carotenoids in protecting a photochromogenic Mycobacterium has been investigated. Bacteria previously induced to synthesize carotenoids by low intensity white light are not killed by high intensity white light while uninduced (carotenoid-free bacteria) are. If high intensity irradiation with white light is carried out at O°, carotenoids still protect these organisms although at a reduced level. This finding is taken to mean that carotenoids can protect these organisnis from photodynamic death by shading photosensitizing pigments. |
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