A carotenoid-pheophytin-protein complex from the digestive juice of silkworm ( Bombyx mori L.)

Abstract

1. 1. A soluble carotenoid-pheophytin-protein complex was purified from the digestive juice of fifth instar silkworm larvae raised on mulberry leaves. 2. 2. The pigment-protein complex showed absorption maxima at 276, 429, 453, 481 and 670 nm. Major pigment components were identified as α-carotene, pheophytin a and b. 3. 3. This complex has an acidic protein component having an isoelectric point of 4.6. The molecular weight was estimated to be 68,000 with four identical subunits.