A MODIFIED CELL WALL MUTANT OF THE RED MICROALGA RHODELLA RETICULATA RESISTANT TO THE HERBICIDE 2,6‐DICHLOROBENZONITRILE

Shoshana (Malis) Arad, Ofer Dubinsky, Bracha Simon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The rigid component of the cell walls of red macroalgae, cellulose, is lacking in the red microalgae. Instead, the cells are encapsulated within an amorphous polysaccharide. These complex sulfated polysaccharides are composed of at least 10 different sugars, but their structure is not known, When the herbicide 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile (DCB), a compound that specifically inhibits cellulose biosynthesis, was applied to cultures of the red microalga Rhodella reticulata upon inoculation, growth was inhibited. When added during the stationary phase of growth (after cell division had ceased), DCB did not affect cell number but it did inhibit polysaccharide production. A spontaneous mutant resistant to DCB was selected; it had physiological characteristics similar to those of the wild‐type parent. The composition of the cell wall polysaccharide of the mutant was totally modified, being composed almost entirely (98% of its dry matter, as compared to 2.9% in the wild type) of methyl galactose, but retaining the same sulfate content. The molecular mass of the mutant polysaccharide was, however, similar to that of the wild‐type parent (∼6 × 106 daltons), although its viscosity was significantly lower.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)309-313
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Phycology
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1993

Keywords

  • 2,6‐dichlorobenzonitrile
  • Rhodella
  • Rhodophyta
  • cell wall polysaccharide
  • microalgae

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aquatic Science
  • Plant Science

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