Carotenoid Production by a Novel Isolate of .

This study reports extraction and characterization of carotenoid pigments from , a non-photosynthetic bacterium, cultivated in Luria-Bertani (LB) medium. The isolate was identified to be moderately halo- and osmo-tolerant capable of withstanding high (~ 6%) salt and sugar (30% w/v sucrose, 20% w/v glucose) concentrations after a brief period of adaptation. The pigments were characterized using a combination of UV-Vis spectral analysis with the λ at 407, 436 and 466 nm and ESI-MS with an value at 536.44. The absorption profile of the pigments and their nature was influenced by carbon, nitrogen source and presence of salt in the growth medium. Highest level of pigment (~ 16 g kg dry wt cells) was produced in NHCl supplemented LB medium. The pigment displayed free radical scavenging, anticancer activity, characteristic of the plant carotenoids. Based on the accumulation of pigments under different conditions, a biochemical pathway for synthesis of neurosporene was proposed.