• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.469-477
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• 2008

The aerobic photosynthetic bacterium, which produces bacterial carotenoids was isolated and identified from coastal marine environments. This bacterium was identified by 16S rDNA sequencing and designated as Erythrobacter longus SY-46. E. longus SY-46 was Gram negative and rod shape, and the optimal culture conditions were $25^{\circ}C$, pH 7.0, and 3.0% NaCl concentration, respectively. The carbon and nitrogen sources required for the optimal growth were lactose and tryptone, respectively. Fatty acid compositions of E. longus SY-46 were $C_{18:1}$(78.32%), v-linolenic acid($C_{18:3n9.12.15c}:3.83%$), margaric acid($C_{17:0}$: 3.38%), palmitic acid($C_{16:0}$: 3.07%), and docosahexaenoic acid($C_{22:6n3}$: 2.21%). In addition, E. longus SY-46 showed the characteristic absorption peaks of bacterial carotenoids(in the region of 450 to 480 nm) and bacteriochlorophyll(770 to 772 nm). Major carotenoids of E. longus SY-46 were polyhydroxylated xanthophylls such as fucoxanthin and zeaxanthin.