Myxoxanthophyll in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is myxol 2'-dimethyl-fucoside, (3R,2'S)-myxol 2'-(2,4-di-O-methyl-alpha-L-fucoside), not rhamnoside.

Abstract

We identified the molecular structures of the carotenoids in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Myxoxanthophyll in this cyanobacterium was myxol 2'-dimethyl-fucoside, (3R,2'S)-myxol 2'-(2,4-di-O-methyl-alpha-L-fucoside). The sugar moiety of the pigment was not rhamnose but dimethylated fucose, which has not been reported in carotenoid glycosides. The other carotenoids were beta-carotene, (3R,3'R)-zeaxanthin, echinenone, (3'R)-3'-hydroxyechinenone and deoxymyxol 2'-dimethyl-fucoside, (2'S)-deoxymyxol 2'-(2,4-di-O-methyl-alpha-L-fucoside). Generally, the group of polar carotenoids in cyanobacteria is referred to as myxoxanthophyll, and the structure is considered to be myxol 2'-rhamnoside. Since the name myxoxanthophyll can not specify the sugar moiety and the identification of the sugar moiety is unfeasible in many cyanobacteria, we propose the following naming convention: when the sugar moiety is unknown, the name is myxol glycoside, when known, as in the case of rhamnose and alpha-L-fucose, they should be named myxol 2'-rhamnoside and myxol 2'-alpha-L-fucoside, respectively.