| The pigmentation of Atlantic salmon flesh is considered an important measure of fish quality and pigments must be supplied in the diet; they cannot be synthesized by the fish. Consequently, aquaculturalists must maintain both a satisfactory and uniform colour in farmed fish to achieve a high market value. The naturally-occurring carotenoids, astaxanthin and canthaxanthin, are responsible for this colouration in wild salmon, while captive salmon are fed synthetic astaxanthin or canthaxanthin to achieve their rubicund colouration. As carotenoids represent more than 20% of the total feed costs and efficiency of astaxanthin incorporation is less than 15%, it is important to determine the mechanism of deposition in the muscle. It was previously suggested that actin was the protein to which astaxanthin binds. This study was designed to determine to which protein astaxanthin is bound. (Abstract shortened by UMI.). |
