Elution Protocols of Intracellular Bacteriocarotenoid Extracts

Abstract

Bacteriocarotenoids of thermophilic species of Rhodopseudomonas palustris isolated from a well of hot spring in Malaysia was extracted and characterized. Multiple spectrophotometeric absorption maxima of the bacteriocarotenoid, thin-layer chromatography and confirmatory high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were used in the mapping, separation and identification of the extracts from bulk-bacteriocarotenoid extracts. Results of the TLC detections with glowing spots of reddish isolated compounds at distinct R_f under low radiation UV lamp, indicated the presence of bacteriocarotenoids. Moreover, results from HPLC analyses did identify two of the extracts as ?-carotene with spectral detections at 450 nm, 474 nm wavelengths, and rhodopin with spectral detections located at 453nm, 482 nm, 521 nm wavelengths.

Keywords: Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Bacteriocarotenoid, Elution, Eluate, Thin-layer chromatography