A Study of the Separation of Pigments of Euglena 9 by Chromatographic Adsorption Techniques and a Determination of Their Absorption Spectra

The flagellate protozoans, Euglena have been observed to exhibit different pigments but few comparative studies have been made concerning them. If there is a difference in the pigments of the various species of Euglena, a method of separation of these pigments or identification would be of interest and value to those working in the fields of physiology and taxonomy. The purpose of the present study is to determine the absorptive spectra of various pigments, isolated by chromatographic adsorption techniques from bacteria-free cultures of Euglena 9. The original culture was obtained from Dr. Luigi Provasoli of Haskins Laboratories, New York, New York. The following methods were used, (1) extraction of the pigments from the Euglena 9 cultures, (2) separation of the pigment mixture into individual pigments by chromatographic adsorption, and (3) determination of the absorptive spectra of the individual pigments