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2‐KETO‐SUGAR ACIDS IN GREEN FLAGELLATES: A CHEMICAL MARKER FOR PRASINOPHYCEAN SCALES 1, 2
Author(s) -
Becker Burkhard,
Becker Dieter,
Kamerling Johannis P.,
Melkonian Michael
Publication year - 1991
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 - 10.1111/j.0022-3646.1991.00498.x
Subject(s) - biology , sugar , rhamnose , arabinose , chlamydomonas reinhardtii , botany , biochemistry , dunaliella , thallus , xylose , mannose , algae , fermentation , mutant , gene
ABSTRACT The chemical composition of cell walls (thecae) of three taxa of scaly green flagellates (Prasinophyceae) was investigated. The theca of Tetraselmis striata, Tetraselmis tetrathele , and Scherffelia dubia consists mainly of carbohydrate (80% of dry weight), with proteins (5%), calcium (4%), and sulfate (6%) as minor components. The principal sugars (60% of dry weight) are the 2‐keto‐sugar acids 3‐deoxy‐ manno ‐2‐octulosonic acid (KDO), 3‐deoxy‐ manno ‐5‐O‐methyl‐2‐octulosonic acid (5OMeKDO), and 3‐deoxy‐ lyxo ‐2‐heptulosaric acid (DHA). Arabinose, gulose, galactose, galacturonic acid, and in S. dubia , xylose and rhamnose were also found. Examination of scale preparations from Mantoniella squamata, Mesostigma viride, Pyramimonas amylifera , and Nephroselmis olivacea revealed that the 2‐keto‐sugar acids were always associated with the presence of typical prasinophycean scales on the cell surface. In contrast, 2‐keto‐sugar acids were not detected in the cell wall of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii nor in polymer preparations from the culture medium of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Dunaliella bioculata, Dunaliella primolecta, Asteromonas gracilis, Hafniomonas reticulate, Pedinomonas tuberculata, Monomastix sp., and Micromonas pusilla . We conclude that 2‐keto‐sugar acids are chemical markers for prasinophycean scales.