LC–MS/APCI identification of glucoside esters and diesters of astaxanthin from the snow alga Chlamydomonas nivalis including their optical stereoisomers

Abstract

HPLC methods (LC-MS/APCI and chiral HPLC) were used for the identification of astaxanthin derivatives from the red snow alga Chlamydomonas nivalis collected in Austrian Alps, Slovak High Tatra Mountains and Bulgarian Pirin. We observed a striking difference in the composition of astaxanthin optical isomers in C. nivalis collected in geographically distinct regions. Furthermore, algae from the Pirin Mountains differed in the dominance of astaxanthin diglucoside diesters, suggesting an alternative strategy to enhance cell viability at low temperatures.