Isolation and characterization of a novel yellow pigment from human and primate tissue.

A novel lipophilic yellow pigment has been isolated from human and primate tissue. Field-desorption mass spectrometry suggests a molecular ion of mass 645-700, and electron-impact mass spectrometry gives a major fragment ion at 603.5348, which is consistent with the elemental composition C37H69N3O3. The ultraviolet/visible spectrum has two major absorption peaks at 423.6 nm and 398.8 nm and a smaller peak at 377.8 nm. The adrenal gland contains the highest concentration of the pigment; it is also present in the colon, kidney, lung, spleen, and stomach tissue. It is not present in brain or liver. The pigment has not been detected in the rat, mouse, cow, pig, or dog.