These serve as synomones, compounds that benefit both the receiving and emitting organism. Carotenoids also are used as human food pigments. The carotenoids of achiote or annato, Bixa orellana , are used for cooking in many parts of the world, but also are margarine pigments. Metabolites of carotenoids Cleaved products derived from carotenoids are common in nature. Some of these are difficult to distinguish from sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, and triterpenes, except by careful biosynthetic studies.
Some volatile derivatives are essential oil components.
This compound is a factor in bud and seed dormancy. This compound is apparently synthesized as a sesquiterpene in some fungi. Trisporic acids Compounds such as trisporic acids play a pheromonal role in the reproduction of fungi of the order Mucorales. Although the interactions are very complex, in general hyphae of the two mating types each contain some of the enzymes needed convert the precursors into the active metabolites. Only when the two mating types are both present are the active compounds formed.