Three different types of beta-carotene mutants of Phycomyces have been studied. In 2 mutants (Type I) beta-carotene is still the principal carotene but scaled down or up relative to wild type. The carotene mixture of 2 mutants (Type II) consists mainly of phytoene and phytofluene. In Type III (2 mutants) beta-carotene is replaced by lycopene. The examination of the mutants reveals that the rece...

Deep-fried carrot chips, containing provitamin-A carotenes, were developed as an alternative mode of dietary intervention to combat vitamin A deficiency. The biological use of carotenoids in this product as vitamin A precursors was evaluated in Mongolian gerbils. Male 4-wk-old gerbils were fed a diet containing all essential nutrients for 1 wk. Then six gerbils were killed, and the remaining ge...

The carotenoids of yellow, red and tangerine tomato fruits were separated and identified by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). β-carotene is extracted with a mixture content hexan and acetone. The various systems of adsorbents and solvents for TLC of carote and tomato carotenes were examined, and it was revealed that the most suitable TLC system for separation and identification was silica gel pl...

Natural-abundance (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance spectra are reported for some simple terpenes and carotenes. The techniques involved in the assignment of the resonances to specific carbons are outlined. The potential of this nondegradative procedure for structural analysis is demonstrated for the investigation of carbon atoms in chemical and biochemical systems.