Table 1.
Carotenoids and apocarotenoids synthesized by Archaea: A total of 25 molecules were isolated from Archaea, including 1 shared with eukaryotes, 4 shared with bacteria and 6 common to the 3 domains of life. In total, 13 carotenoids are unique to the archaeal world. α-carotene was reported by some authors in Archaea [86], but its presence in prokaryotes is doubtful due to the trace amounts found and insufficient analysis.
| Carotenoids or Apocarotenoids Present in the Three Domains of Life | Carotenoids Common to Archaea and Eukaryotes | Carotenoids Common to Archaea and Bacteria | Archaea-Specific Carotenoids |
|---|---|---|---|
| β-Carotene | (13Z)-β-Carotene (can also be found in bacteria from the photoisomerization of (all-E) -β-Carotene). |
Bacterioruberin (BR) | Dihydrobisanhydrobacterioruberin |
| Dihydroisopentenyldehydrorhodopin | |||
| Lycopene or (all-E)-Lycopene |
3′,4′-Dihydromonoanhydrobacterioruberin | ||
| Bisanhydrobacterioruberin (BABR) | 1′,2′-Epoxy-2′-(2,3-epoxy-3-methylbutyl)-2-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)-3′,4′-didehydro-1,2,1′,2′-tetrahydro-ψ,ψ-caroten-1-ol | ||
| Phytoene or (15Z)-Phytoene | 2-Isopentenyl-3,4-dehydrorhodopin | ||
| 3,4,3′,4′-Tetrahydrobisanhydrobacterioruberin | |||
| Phytofluene or (15Z)-Phytofluene |
Trisanhydrobacterioruberin | ||
| Monoanhydrobacterioruberin (MABR) |
(9Z)-Zeaxanthin-3′-rhamnoside | ||
| (13Z)-Zeaxanthin-3′-rhamnoside | |||
| (15Z)-Zeaxanthin-3′-rhamnoside | |||
| (all-E)-Phytofluene | Zeaxanthin diglucoside | Zeaxanthin dirhamnoside | |
| (9Z)-Zeaxanthin dirhamnoside | |||
| Retinal or Vitamin A aldehyde (apocarotenoid) |
Zeaxanthin monorhamnoside |