Comparative aspects of lipid metabolism in marine algae

TLDR: The lipid content and metabolism of five algae was studied and fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) formed from the lipids were analysed by g.1.c.

Abstract: Marine macroalgae are a diverse and abundant group of plants, but many aspects of their metabolism are poorly understood. Marine algal lipids show variations from those of higher plants, and marked differences occur amongst algal divisions. Marine algae have a wide range of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA’s) and some unusual lipids (Jamieson & Reid, 1972; Pohl & Zurheide, 1979~; Smith & Harwood, 1984). The lipid content and metabolism of five algae (Fucus vesiculosus, Ascophyllum nodosum: Phaeophyceae, Chondrus crispus, Polysiphonia lanosa: Rhodophyceae, and Enteromorpha intestinalis: Chlorophyceae) was studied. Samples of algae were collected from sites on the S. Wales coast. Lipids were extracted by the method of Garbus et al. (1963) as modified by Smith et al. (1982), and identified by co-chromatography with standards on t.1.c. and staining reactions. Fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) formed from the lipids were analysed by g.1.c. and quantified using an internal standard. Identifications were confirmed using