Effects of silicon deficiency on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in the diatom Cyclotella cryptica

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:6921890

Roessler, P G

Previous studies have shown that silicon deficiency induces lipid accumulation in certain diatom species. The nature of the lipids produced under these conditions was not investigated, however, and the biochemical mechanisms which underlie this phenomenon were not determined. Research was carried out in order to increase our knowledge concerning the aspects of lipid accumulation in diatoms. The first phase of this project indicated that the diatoms C. cryptica, Cylindrotheca fusiformis, and Thalassiosira pseudonana accumulated storage lipids when grown under silicon-limiting conditions. The ratio of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids to polyunsaturated fatty acids in C. cryptica cells increased markedly after 24 hours of silicon deficiency. Tracer experiments with (/sup 14/C)bicarbonate suggested that lipid accumulation in silicon-limited C. cryptica cells was due to two distinct processes: (1) an increase in the amount of newly photoassimilated carbon partitioned into lipids, and (2) a slow conversion of non-lipid compounds (carbohydrates and presumably proteins) into lipids.

• Research Organization: Colorado Univ., Boulder (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6921890
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
CARBOHYDRATES
METABOLISM
LIPIDS
SILICON
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
DIATOMS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
ALGAE
ELEMENTS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
SEMIMETALS
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques