Existence of carotenoids in Acholeplasma axanthum.

The neutral lipids of Acholeplasma axanthum contain carotenoid pigments, as evidenced by spectral characteristics, visual color, color reactions, and labeling with [2-14C-A1mevalonic acid. Approximately 80% of the label from [2-14C]mevalonic acid appeared in esterified fatty acids of the glycolipids and polar lipids. These carboxylic acids behaved as hydroxy acids of varying chain length.