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Polyols and UV ‐sunscreens in the Prasiola ‐clade (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta) as metabolites for stress response and chemotaxonomy
Author(s) -
Hotter Vivien,
Glaser Karin,
Hartmann Anja,
Ganzera Markus,
Karsten Ulf
Publication year - 2018
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/jpy.12619
Subject(s) - biology , chlorophyta , chemotaxonomy , botany , clade , algae , green algae , phylogenetic tree , taxonomy (biology) , biochemistry , gene
In many regions of the world, aeroterrestrial green algae of the Trebouxiophyceae (Chlorophyta) represent very abundant soil microorganisms, and hence their taxonomy is crucial to investigate their physiological performance and ecological importance. Due to a lack in morphological features, taxonomic and phylogenetic studies of Trebouxiophycean algae can be a challenging task. Since chemotaxonomic markers could be a great assistance in this regard, 22 strains of aeroterrestrial Trebouxiophyceae were chemically screened for their polyol‐patterns as well as for mycosporine‐like amino acids ( MAA s) in their aqueous extracts using RP ‐ HPLC and LC ‐ MS . d ‐sorbitol was exclusively detected in members of the Prasiolaceae family. The novel MAA prasiolin and a related compound (“prasiolin‐like”) were present in all investigated members of the Prasiola ‐clade, but missing in all other tested Trebouxiophyceae. While prasiolin could only be detected in field material directly after extraction, the “prasiolin‐like” compound present in the other algae was fully converted into prasiolin after 24 h. These findings suggest d ‐sorbitol and prasiolin‐like compounds are suitable chemotaxonomic markers for the Prasiolaceae and Prasiola ‐clade, respectively. Additional UV ‐exposure experiments with selected strains show that MAA formation and accumulation can be induced, supporting their role as UV ‐sunscreen.