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High plasticity in the production of diatom-derived polyunsaturated aldehydes under nutrient limitation: physiological and ecological implications
- Source :
- Protist (Jena, Print) 160 (2009): 444–451. doi:10.1016/j.protis.2009.01.003, info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Ribalte F (a); Vidoudez C (b); Cassin D (c); Pohnert G (b); Ianora A (a); Miralto A (a); and Casotti R (a)/titolo:High Plasticity in the Production of Diatom-derived Polyunsaturated Aldehydes under Nutrient Limitation: Physiological and Ecological Implications/doi:10.1016%2Fj.protis.2009.01.003/rivista:Protist (Jena, Print)/anno:2009/pagina_da:444/pagina_a:451/intervallo_pagine:444–451/volume:160
- Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Diatoms have evolved a silicified cell wall that provides an efficient barrier against herbivores. These microalgae also produce chemical compounds such as polyunsaturated aldehydes (PUAs) that can potentially impair recruitment and cause malformations in the offspring of such grazers. We measured silica content as an indication of cell wall thickness, organic nutrient cell quotas, PUAs and polyunsaturated fatty acid cell content in Skeletonema marinoi grown under N-, P- and Si-limitation in continuous cultures. A 7.5 fold increase in PUA production was observed (27.5 fmol cell(-1)) in Si-limited cells with respect to the controls, while Si content decreased by 50%. PUA production decreased in nitrogen-limited cells to 0.14 fmol cell(-1) and increased 3 times in phosphorus-limited cells (7.53 fmol cell(-1)), while silica content increased by 20% in both cases. The substrate to product ratio suggested that production of the PUAs heptadienal and octadienal was limited by the amount of substrate under P- and Si-limitation, and by enzyme activity under N-limitation. Octatrienal production was likely limited by enzyme activity in all growth conditions. The high PUA levels produced under Si-limitation, when cells have a thinner cell wall, suggests a compensatory alternation of mechanical and chemical defense mechanisms.
- Subjects :
- 0106 biological sciences
polyunsaturated aldehydes
Cell
01 natural sciences
Microbiology
Cell wall
03 medical and health sciences
Nutrient
Skeletonema marinoi
Cell Wall
medicine
030304 developmental biology
chemistry.chemical_classification
Diatoms
nutrient limitation
0303 health sciences
Aldehydes
biology
Ecology
010604 marine biology & hydrobiology
biology.organism_classification
Silicon Dioxide
Enzyme assay
defense
medicine.anatomical_structure
Diatom
Biochemistry
chemistry
biology.protein
Fatty Acids, Unsaturated
Chemical defense
Polyunsaturated fatty acid
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 16180941
- Volume :
- 160
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Protist
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....91fd450f600acdd10cdd11888b8119d5