Brominating activity of the seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum: Impact on the biosphere

Journal Article · Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1991 · Environmental Science and Technology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00015a010· OSTI ID:5608512

Wever, R; Tromp, M G.M.; Krenn, B E; Marjani, A; Van Tol, M ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Amsterdam (Netherlands)

Macroalgae are an important source of volatile halogenated organic compounds, such as bromoform and dibromomethane. The mechanism by which these compounds are formed is still elusive. The authors report that the brown seaweeds Laminaria saccharina, Laminaria digitata, Fucus vesiculosis, Pelvetia canaliculata, and Ascophyllum nodosum and the red seaweeds Chondrus crispus and Plocamium hamatum contain bromoperoxidases. The intact plants are able to brominate exogeneous organic compounds when H{sub 2}O{sub 2} and Br{sup {minus}} are added to seawater. Further, the authors show that the brominating activity of the brown macroalga A. nodosum, which contains a vanadium bromoperoxidase located on the thallus surface, occurs when the plant is exposed to light and not in the dark. The rate of bromination of exogenous organic compounds in seawater by this plant is 68 nmol (g of wet alga){sup {minus}1} h{sup {minus}1}. HOBr is a strong biocidal agent and the authors propose that the formation of HOBr by this seaweed is part of a host defense system.

• OSTI ID: 5608512
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (USA), Vol. 25:3; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
BROMINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
BIOSYNTHESIS
POLLUTION SOURCES
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
BIOSPHERE
BROMOFORM
DATA ANALYSIS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
PEROXIDASES
SEAWEEDS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
DATA
ENZYMES
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC BROMINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PLANTS
SYNTHESIS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
550500 - Metabolism