Carotenoid Pigments of Spiny Lobster

The carotenoid pigments of the carapace, eggs, hepatopancreas and exuviae of spiny lobster, Panulirus japonicas, were investigated. The following nine carotenoid pigments as free or esterified forms were identified from the carapace: β-carotene, echinenone, canthaxanthin, phoenicoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, cynthiaxanthin, 4-keto-zeaxanthin (30%) and astaxanthin (45%). On the other hand in the exuviae, a series of keto-carotenoids, namely, canthaxan-thin, phoenicoxanthin (21%), 4-keto-zeaxanthin and astaxanthin (67%) were found in free forms. Eggs contained only unesterified carotenoids; astaxanthin (36.8% ), β-carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and cynthiaxanthin. In the carapace, eggs and exuviae, astaxanthin was the principal carotenoid pig-ment, while in the hepatopancreas, β-carotene (76%) was dominant. The following metabolic pathways of carotenoids in spiny lobster are suggested. (1) β-carotene →echinenone→canthaxanthin→phoenicoxanthin→astaxanthin (2) zeaxanthin→4-keto-zeaxanthin→ astaxanthin