Identification of crystalline material found in the thallus of the lichen, Myelochroa leucotyliza

Lichens are symbiotic associations of fungi and algae (or cyanobacteria). Fungal cells produce large amounts of lipid, assisted by algae, and secrete them out of the cells. Some of the secreted lipids crystallize in the thallus of the lichen. The crystalline materials sometimes occupy 30% of total d...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of structural biology 2004-06, Vol.146 (3), p.393-400
Main Authors: Arakawa-Kobayashi, Satoko, Kobayashi, Takashi, Hasebe, Mitsuyasu, Kanaseki, Toku
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Atranorin
Chromatography, Thin Layer
Crystal
Crystallization
Electron diffraction
Freeze replica
Fungi
Hydroxybenzoates - chemistry
Lichen
Lichens - chemistry
Lipid secretion
Lipids - chemistry
Lipids - secretion
Microscopy, Electron
Polyketide
Polyketide synthase (PKS)
X-ray
X-Ray Diffraction
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Lichens are symbiotic associations of fungi and algae (or cyanobacteria). Fungal cells produce large amounts of lipid, assisted by algae, and secrete them out of the cells. Some of the secreted lipids crystallize in the thallus of the lichen. The crystalline materials sometimes occupy 30% of total dry weight of the thallus. This unusual amount of lipid crystal led to our interest in investigating the mechanism of lipid secretion. To begin the cell biological study of lipid secretion and to know the significance of the existence of such crystals in the thallus, it is essential to identify the crystal. The lipid crystal extracted from the thallus of a lichen, Myelochroa leucotyliza, was studied by EM observations, TLC analysis, and EM and X-ray diffraction methods. Atranorin is the predominant component of the crystalline materials in the lipids extracted.
ISSN:1047-8477
1095-8657
DOI:10.1016/j.jsb.2004.01.015