JMU: Liverpool John Moores University
Prof
Andrew Young
Dr Rachel Symonds
JMU: Liverpool John Moores University
The Carotenoid Research Laboratory has more than 17 years experience in the biology and biochemistry of carotenoids. Much of the research is very applied and concerns the role / function of carotenoids in biological systems – both as pigments and as dietary antioxidants. The laboratory is well equipped for the analysis of carotenoids with a dedicated suite of analytical facilities, housed in a dark room. Major items of analytical equipment include three diode-array gradient HPLCs, LC-MS, two UV/Vis Spectrophotometers and a centrifugal evaporator (for the simultaneous preparation of large amounts of samples). Other analytical facilities including NMR CD and GC are available within the Faculty. Sample colour, formerly determined using an industry-standard light-box, will also be determined using a Chronometer. Together these will be used in this study to identify carotenoids and their metabolites in microalgae and the sea urchins. In addition, the laboratory has built extensive facilities for the pilot-scale cultivation of microalgae (including big-bag culture, air-lifts and a series of closed tubular photobioreactors). These are housed in a dedicated controlled environment room. Two new environmental rooms are currently being constructed and will be made available for this project. Facilities for the downstream processing of microalgae are also available within the laboratory (e.g. large volume centrifuges, flow-through cell disruptor, freeze- and spray).