The Isolation and Study of Some Naturally Occurring Fluorescent Organic Compounds and Stereoisomerization of Prolycopene, Pro-γ-Carotene, and Lycopene in Chickens and Hens

Citation

Koe, B. Kenneth (1952) The Isolation and Study of Some Naturally Occurring Fluorescent Organic Compounds and Stereoisomerization of Prolycopene, Pro-γ-Carotene, and Lycopene in Chickens and Hens. Dissertation (Ph.D.), California Institute of Technology. doi:10.7907/ZT9Z-S931. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechTHESIS:11202017-102618218

Abstract

A report on the detection, analysis, spectrum, and identification of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons as lipoid-soluble, fluo­rescent organic compounds occurring in certain marine invertebrates (barnacles) is presented. Crystalline preparations of these compounds have been obtained from the intensely fluorescent zones resulting from chromatographic resolution of the crude barnacle extracts. These hydrocarbons include anthracene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, chrysene, 1,12-benzperylene, coronene, and the strongly active carcinogen, 3,4-benzpyrene. Similar experiments carried out with the beach worm have revealed only traces of polycyclic aromatic compounds. They have not been found in deep-sea mud samples or in some seaweeds tested. Some suggestions are made as to the origin of these compounds in barnacles (and beach worms).

When polycis carotenoids are fed to chickens and hens over a period of several days, and the crude extracts of the different tissues, gut washings, and feces of these animals are submitted to chromatographic analysis, the pigments recovered are found to con­sist of the unchanged starting compound and stereoisomerized forms. This bio-stereoisomerization results in the formation of not only the all-trans and neo-forms of the carotenoid administered but also polycis isomers, some of which possess more cis double bonds than the starting material.

Thesis Files