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TEMPORAL AND SPATIAL PRODUCTION OF AGGLUTININS IN MARINE MACROALGAE FROM THE MEXICAN CARIBBEAN
Author(s) -
De LaraIsassi G.,
ÁlvarezHernández S.,
LozanoRamírez C.,
HernándezSoto N.,
Dreckmann K. M.
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.1529-8817.1999.00001-51.x
Subject(s) - biology , botany , algae , chlorophyta , agglutination (biology) , genetics , antigen
The presence or absence of secondary metabolites in algae has been long discussed. There are several hypotheses to explain the synthesis of secondary metabolites in algae as a response to herbivory pressure, competence or predation. In this work we made a screening test of chlorophyte and rhodophyte species collected in different sites of the Caribbean sea in order to test them for agglutinins. The extracts were prepared in a phosphate buffer solution 100‐mM, pH 7.2 and filtered using 0.22 μm Millipore filters. Agglutination tests were done in microtiter‐plates using formalinized rabbit and human A, O, B erythrocytes. Agglutination titer was recorded and expressed as the reciprocal of the highest dilution showing positive results. A total of 31 samples were analyzed; seven Chlorophyta species and 11 Rhodophyta showed agglutinating activity. The species that showed activity variation included the chlorophytes, Caulerpa cupressoides , Caulerpa paspaloides , Halimeda opuntia and Penicillus capitatus and the rhodophytes, Chondria litoralis , Digenea simplex , Gracilaria cornea and Laurencia obtusa. The agglutinating activity of Liagora farinosa is reported for the first time. This research indicates that ecological pressures are an important factor in seaweeds agglutinins synthesis.