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THE PINGUIOPHYCEAE CLASSIS NOVA, CHROMOPHYTE ALGAE PRODUCING LARGE AMOUNTS OF OMEGA‐3 FATTY ACIDS
Author(s) -
Kawachi M.,
Inouye I.,
Honda D.,
O'kelly C.J.,
Bailey J.C.,
Bidigare R.R.,
Andersen R.A.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of phycology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.85
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1529-8817
pISSN - 0022-3646
DOI - 10.1046/j.1529-8817.1999.00001-105.x
Subject(s) - biology , violaxanthin , flagellum , antheraxanthin , algae , polyunsaturated fatty acid , botany , neoxanthin , carotenoid , biochemistry , zeaxanthin , fatty acid , gene , lutein
A new class of algae is proposed for a small group of unusual chromophytes (=heterokont algae). One novel aspect of these organisms is that cells contain large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (41 – 67% of fatty acids), with exceptionally high amounts of EPA (21 – 56% of fatty acids). A second unusual character is that, for at least two genera, the mature flagellum (short, smooth flagellum of other chromophytes) is dominant, and the immature flagellum (long, hairy flagellum of other chromophytes) lacks tripartite hairs and is reduced in size or even absent. Carotenoid analysis shows that the class is characterized by the presence of chlorophylls a and c , fucoxanthin, violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, zeaxanthin, and β‐carotene. The 18S rRNA and rbc L gene sequences show that these organisms form a monophyletic group that is supported by very high bootstrap values. The phylogenetic relationships of the Pinguiophyceae and other classes are not well resolved, however, the relationships among the chromophytes have always been uncertain. The abundance of EPA, known to reduce “bad cholesterol” in humans, suggests this new class may be of significant economic importance.