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EXOGENOUS STEROIDS AND GROWTH OF NEOSPONGIOCOCCUM SP. (CHLOROPHYTA) 1
Author(s) -
Hardy Mark G.,
O'Kelley Joseph C.
Publication year - 1986
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.1529-8817.1986.tb02505.x
Subject(s) - pregnenolone , side chain , carbon atom , chlorophyta , biology , steroid , algae , hydrocarbon , ring (chemistry) , carbon fibers , testosterone (patch) , botany , stereochemistry , biochemistry , endocrinology , chemistry , organic chemistry , materials science , composite number , hormone , composite material , polymer
Of the various types of steroids found in nature, only sterols (steroids whose molecules possess an 8‐ to 10‐carbon atom hydrocarbon side chain at position 17 of the perhydrocyclopentanophenanthrene ring) are known to be common constituents of algae. Little is known of the effects of steroids in the environment upon the growth and survival of algae. This paper investigates the growth of the green alga Neospongiococcum sp. in medium containing steroids. Bile acids are not inhibitory, even at a concentration of 100 ppm. Some sterols inhibit growth when present in the medium at a concentration of 100 ppm, but not at 10 ppm. Testosterone and β‐estradiol, which have no carbon atom side chain at ring position 17, inhibit growth at a concentration of only 10 ppm. Steroids whose molecules possess a 2‐carbon atom side chain at ring position 17 and a keto group at the α‐carbon of this side chain, such as pregnenolone, inhibit growth at a concentration of as little as 1 ppm. Respiration is also inhibited by pregnenolone at this level .