Seasonal changes in the content of lipids, fatty acids, and pigments in brown alga Costaria costata

• Published in: Russian journal of plant physiology 2010-03, Vol.57 (2), p.205-211
• Main Authors: Gerasimenko, N. I, Busarova, N. G, Moiseenko, O. P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Costaria costata; fatty acids; glyceroglycolipids; Indexing in process; Life Sciences; phospholipids; pigments; Plant Physiology; Plant Sciences; Research Papers
• ISSN: 1021-4437; 1608-3407
• DOI: 10.1134/S102144371002007X

We compared the content of total lipids, particular lipid classes, fatty acids (FAs), and pigments in the brown alga Costaria costata [Turn.] Saund (Laminariaceae) in different seasons: during algal active life (April-June) and in the beginning of their degradation (the end of July). Lipids comprised only a small part of algal extractable compounds (10.9-13.4%). Their higher content was observed in May, in the period of alga preparation to sporogenesis. Polar lipids, glyceroglycolipids (GL) and phospholipids (PL), comprised a great part of total lipids in spring months and June, whereas neutral lipids, in July. GL predominated in polar lipids in spring and summer. The highest content of GL was observed in May and PL in April. Storage lipids comprised a great part of lipids in July. The content of sterols was the highest in April and May. In summer months, the content of sterols decreased and remained on unchanged level until thallus degradation. Polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) comprised the most part of FAs. Their highest content was observed in April. The main part of PUFAs were those of ω-3 series. In July, the level of these PUFA decreased substantially. The levels of ω-6 PUFAs were approximately similar in spring and summer months. The lowest content of monounsaturated FAs was detected in April; in May and July; the relative content of these FAs increased sharply. We also detected seasonal changes in the content of pigments and the ratios between them.