Fatty acid dynamics in Thalassiosira pseudonana (Bacillariophyceae): implications for physiological ecology

Journal Article · Thu Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1978 · J. Phycol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1529-8817.1978.tb02439.x· OSTI ID:6692759

Fisher, N S; Schwarzenbach, R P

The growth, dry weight, fatty acid weight and fatty acid composition of two clones of Thalassiosira pseudonana Hasle and Heimdal were measured under several growth conditions. Determinations of total cellular fatty acids were made using chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Both clones had the same fatty acids, dominated by C14:0, C16:0, C16:1, C16:3, C16:4, C18:4 and C20:5, though in different relative amounts. Fatty acids typically represented 5--10 percent the dry weight of a cell during log phase growth and up to 22 percent during stationary phase. The C16 fatty acids of both clones changed as the cultures aged, though much more markedly in the Sargasso Sea clone (13-1) than in the estuarine one (3H). The C16:0 and C16:1 acids of both clones declined sharply in the dark and were replenished in the light. Cells maintained in constant illumination, but with no cell division, produced large quantities of these acids. Cells of clone 13-1 treated with polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) initially grew more slowly than control cells, weighed more, and had higher relative amounts of C16:0 and C16:1. Fatty acid studies may provide useful indicators of ecologically important energy reserves and membrane adaptations in the algae.

• Research Organization: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA
• OSTI ID: 6692759
• Journal Information: J. Phycol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Phycol.; (United States) Vol. 14:2; ISSN JPYLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000* -- Physiological Systems
560301 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Cells-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ALGAE
AROMATICS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
BIOMASS
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CELL CULTURES
CHEMISTRY
CLONE CELLS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DIATOMS
ECOLOGY
ENERGY SOURCES
KINETICS
LIPIDS
METABOLISM
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PHYSIOLOGY
PLANTS
REACTION KINETICS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES