Abstract
Cyst cells of the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis accumulate astaxanthin with maturation of the resting stage. To study the protective role of astaxanthin against u.v. damage, both immature (astaxanthin-poor) and mature (astaxanthin-rich) cyst cells were exposed to u.v.-A or u.v.-B irradiation, and the residual cell viability and astaxanthin levels were determined. u.v.-B decreased both cell viability and astaxanthin level of cyst cells to a greater extent than u.v.-A. Tolerance of mature cyst cells to u.v.-B was 6-fold higher than that of immature cyst cells. These results indicated that astaxanthin in cyst cells functions as a protective agent against u.v.-B irradiation.
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