Natürliche Pteridin-Pigmente: Schmetterlings- und Augen-farbstoffe

Abstract

Pteridine pigments are widely distributed in nature and are found as colouring matter especially in butterfly wings and insects. The butterfly pigments consists of relatively simple chemical structures but of unusual physical properties whereas the eye pigments from insects are composed of more complex structural arrangements. The biosynthesis of these pigments has been unravelled in detail and reveals a close structural relationship of the various types of compounds.