Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Lutein in a Bacterial Membrane

Nature volume 182, pages 55–56 (1958)Cite this article

Abstract

CAROTENOIDS have been noted as constituents of a number of bacteria1, possibly associated with protein compounds2. In a chemical analysis of the protoplast membrane of Micrococcus lysodeikticus 3, the absorption spectrum of a solution of the lipid fraction in petroleum ether, obtained by solvent extraction of the membrane, indicated the presence of lutein. However, the carotenoid was unstable in organic solvents and consequently the quantitative estimation gave a value believed to be low. It has now been found possible to determine the pigment in the membrane without preliminary extraction.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Ohta, T., J. Pharm. Soc. Japan, 71, 1319 (1951). Goodwin, T. W., “Ann. Rev. Biochem.”, 24, 497 (1955).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Saperstein, S., and Starr, M. P., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 16, 482 (1955).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Gilby, A. R., Few, A. V., and McQuillen, K., Biochim. Biophys. Acta (in the press).

  4. Gilby, A. R., and Few, A. V., Nature, 179, 422 (1957).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Heller, W., and Vassy, E., J. Chem. Phys., 14, 565 (1946).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Goodwin, T. W., “Modern Methods in Plant Analysis”, 3 (Springer Verlag, Berlin, 1955).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Duysens, L. N. M., Biochim. Biophys. Acta, 19, 1 (1956).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. A. R. GILBY

    Present address: Division of Entomology, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, Canberra, Australia

  2. A. V. FEW: Former member of the scientific staff of the Medical Research Council.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Colloid Science, The University, Cambridge,

    A. R. GILBY & A. V. FEW

Authors
  1. A. R. GILBY
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. V. FEW
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

GILBY, A., FEW, A. Lutein in a Bacterial Membrane. Nature 182, 55–56 (1958). https://doi.org/10.1038/182055a0

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/182055a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing