The chemical structure of the pigments in Ara macao plumage

Citation
R. Stradi et al., The chemical structure of the pigments in Ara macao plumage, COMP BIOC B, 130(1), 2001, pp. 57-63
Citations number
9
Categorie Soggetti
Biochemistry & Biophysics
Journal title
COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY B-BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
ISSN journal
10964959 → ACNP
Volume
130
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
57 - 63
Database
ISI
SICI code
1096-4959(200108)130:1<57:TCSOTP>2.0.ZU;2-T
Abstract
Parrots (Psittaciformes) harbor unusually bright, non-carotenoid, feather p igments. We successfully extracted and purified a sufficient quantity of pi gment from the red plumage of the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao) for a partial c hemical analysis. The extracts were analyzed by HPLC coupled with UV-VIS an d mass spectroscopy before and after total hydrogenation. We found at least four pigment components. We propose a linear polyenal structure comparable with the molecules tetradecahexenal, hexadecaheptenal, octadecaoctenal and eicosanonenal. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.