Biosynthesis of Carotenes in Carrot Extracts

Abstract

Using methyl and carboxyl labelled acetate, Grob and Butler^1,2 have shown that both carbon atoms of acetate are extensively incorporated into β-carotene synthesized by Mucor heimalis. They also found that pantothenic acid and pantetheine stimulate β-carotene synthesis; on the basis of this fact they have suggested that coenzyme A is involved in carotenogenesis. Studies have therefore been made to investigate the role of coenzyme A in the biogenesis of carotenoids; the present study details the results of the experiments on carotene biosynthesis using extracts prepared from carrots (Daucus carota).