Microbial Carotenoids from Bacteria and Microalgae, 2012 Methods and Protocols Methods in Molecular Biology Series, Vol. 892

Carotenoids are a family of yellow to orange-red terpenoid pigments synthesized by photosynthetic organisms and many bacteria and fungi. They have beneficial health effects protecting against oxidative damage and may be responsible for the colours associated with plants and animals. In Microbial Carotenoids from Bacteria and Microalgae: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers in the field detail many of the most up-to-date methods which are now commonly used to study carotenoids. These include methods for the study of canthaxanthin production, construction of carotenoid reporter systems, directed evolution of carotenoid synthases, and improvement of b-carotene hydroxylase catalytic activity are described. Additionally, the book includes methods of DNA fingerprinting for the identification of carotenogenic Dunaliella species, ketocarotenoid biosynthesis in microalgae expressing the beta-C-4-carotene oxygenase gene, characterization of carotenogenesis genes in Anabaena sp., obtaining lutein from microalgal biomass, NMR-based isotopologue profiling of microbial carotenoids, and analysis of diapocarotenoids. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology? series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

 Authoritative and practical, Microbial Carotenoids from Bacteria and Microalgae: Methods and Protocols provides practical experimental laboratory procedures for a wide range of carotenoids producing microorganisms.

Pathways of Carotenoids Biosynthesis in Bacteria and Microalgae.-Selection and Taxonomic Identification of Carotenoids Producing Marine Actinomycetes.-Isolation, Characterization and Diversity of Novel Radio-tolerant Carotenoids-producing Bacteria.-A Novel Radio-tolerant Astaxanthin Producing Bacterium Reveals a New Astaxanthin Derivative: Astaxanthin Dirhamnoside.-Novel Zeaxanthin Producing Bacteria Isolated from a Radioactive Hot Spring Water.-Novel Approach in the Biosynthesis of Functional Carotenoids in Escherichia coli.-Engineering Escherichia coli for Canthaxanthin and Astaxanthin Biosynthesis.-Analysis of Canthaxanthin Production by Gordonia jacobaea.-Isolation and Light-stimulated Expression of Canthaxanthin and Spirilloxathin Biosynthesis Genes from the Photosynthetic Bacterium Bradyrhizobium sp. Strain ORS278.-Construction of Carotenoid Biosynthetic Pathways Through Chromosomal Integration in Methane-Utilizing Bacterium Methylomonas sp. Strain 16a.-Genetic Modification in Bacillus subtilis for Production of C30 Carotenoids.-Carotenoids Production from Halophilic Bacteria.-Construction and Utilization of Carotenoid Reporter Systems: Identification of Chromosomal Integration Sites that Support Suitable Expression of Biosynthetic Genes and Pathways.-Directed Evolution of Carotenoid Synthases for the Production of Unnatural Carotenoids.-A High Throughput Screen for the Identification of Improved Catalytic activity: b-carotene Hydroxylase.-DNA Fingerprinting Intron-sizing Method to Accomplish a Specific,Rapid and Sensitive Identification of Carotenogenic Dunaliella Species.-Ketocarotenoid Biosynthesis in Transgenic Microalgae Expressing a Foreign β-C-4-carotene Oxygenase Gene.-Characterization of Carotenogenesis Genes in the Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120.-Obtaining Lutein Rich Extract from Microalgal Biomass at Preparative Scale.-NMR-based Isotopologue Profiling of MicrobialCarotenoids.-Analysis of Diapocarotenoids Found in Pigmented Bacillus Species.