Delta-Carotene
δ-Carotene or ε,ψ-carotene is a form of carotene with an ε-ring at one end, and the other uncyclized, labelled ψ. It is an intermediate synthesis product in some photosynthetic plants between lycopene and α-carotene or ε-carotene. δ-Carotene is fat soluble. Delta-carotene contains an alpha-ionone instead of a beta-ionone ring; this conversion is carried out by the gene Del which shifts the position of the double bond in the ring structure. The formation delta-carotene under the presence of the Del gene is sensitive to high temperatures.
