Separation and mass spectrometry identification of carotenoid complex from radioresistant bacteria Deinococcus radiodurans

Carotenoid complex from Deinococcus radiodurans bacteria, highly resistant to ionizing radiation, is of interest from the viewpoint of effective radioprotective drugs development. In the present study a simple procedure for separation and mass spectrometric analysis of D. radiodurans carotenoid complex is described. Other compounds, molecular weight of which according to mass spectrometry, corresponds to phytoene and astaxanthin are revealed in bacterial extracts as well as three more carotenoids, characterized by m / z of protonated molecules 521, 553 and 569, whose identification demands specification. It is shown that the compound with molecular mass 564 Da, that was recognized earlier as an artifact, appeared to be actually present in the bacteria extracts.