The effect of growth temperature and culture density on the molecular species composition of the galactolipids in the red microalga Porphyridium cruentum (Rhodophyta)

Daniel Adlerstein, Chiara Bigogno, Inna Khozin, Zvi Cohen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The effects of biomass concentration and growth temperature on the molecular species composition of the major galactolipids of the red microalga Porphyridium cruentum Nag. were determined. At lower biomass concentrations, the Δ17 desaturation of arachidonic acid to eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5) was enhanced in both prokaryotic type and eukaryotic-type molecular species of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerol. We suggest that chloroplastic Δ17 desaturation is correlated with the availability of light. A reduction in the growth temperature led to an increase in the proportion of the eukaryotic molecular species of MGDG, especially for 20:5/20:5 MGDG. These results suggest that this molecular species, and perhaps eukaryotic molecular species in general, may play a role in the adaptation of cells to low growth temperatures.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)975-979
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Phycology
Volume33
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1997

Keywords

  • Eicosapentaenoic acid
  • Fatty acids
  • Light intensity
  • Lipid molecular species
  • Porphyridium
  • Temperature

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Aquatic Science
  • Plant Science

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