Carotenoid-protein complexes and their stability towards oxygen and radiation.
Ramakrishnan T. V., Francis F. J.
Author Affiliation: Massachusetts University, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
Environmental and Experimental Botany 20 : 1-6
Abstract : Carotenoid-protein complexes isolated from fresh mangoes were more stable to oxygen and gamma -irradiation when dissolved in water than was pure beta -carotene dissolved in petroleum ether. Part of the pigment could be released from the complex by gamma -irradiation. Observations on the stability of the carotenoid (98% beta -carotene) in the complex indicated that the pigment is either associated with the lipid prosthetic group of the protein or loosely attached to the protein by weak hydrophobic bonds.