Electron Microscopic Studies of Extraplastidic Astaxanthin in Haematococcus12

The ketonic carotenoid astaxanthin accumulates in perinuclear cytoplasm characterized by a network of ribosome-coated endoplnsmic reticulum segments, free ribosomes, dictyosomes in active stages of vesicle formation, and mitochondria. The pigment granules form in the ground substance and not within any organelle or vesicle. Coalescence of the globular granules results from increasing quantities of astaxanthin formed as the cells age. The gross differences in fixation image following glzitaraldehyde-KMnO4 and glutaraldehyde-Os O4 are illustrated, and the need for n variety of fixations upon which interpretations are bused is emphasized. The bright red coloration of akinetes is due to a masking of the chlorophyll by the massive astaxnnthin deposits rather than m y break-down of the chloroplast thylakoids.