短期饥饿胁迫对鮸鱼生化组成、脂肪酸和氨基酸组成的影响

在水温(22±1)℃条件下,研究了短期饥饿胁迫对鮸鱼幼鱼生化组成、脂肪酸和氨基酸的影响。幼鱼分别饥饿0d（S0）、饥饿3d（S3）、饥饿6d（S6）、饥饿9d（S9）、饥饿12d（S12）和饥饿15d（S15）。结果表明：鱼体内的粗蛋白、粗脂肪和糖类随着饥饿时间的延长而逐渐降低,而水分和灰份随着饥饿时间的延长而逐渐升高。饱和脂肪酸（SFA）和单不饱和脂肪酸（MUFA）显著下降（p<0.05）;而多不饱和脂肪酸（PUFA）呈先上升趋势。鮸鱼幼鱼短期饥饿胁迫过程中,首先利用饱和脂肪酸,然后利用低不饱和脂肪酸,最后才动用高不饱和脂肪酸。双键位置不同的脂肪酸在饥饿过程中的损失速度也有差异,具体为n-9 PUFA＞n-6 PUFA＞n-3 PUFA。S0主要氨基酸为天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、蛋氨酸、亮氨酸、赖氨酸和精氨酸。经过不同时间饥饿后,氨基酸总量和必须氨基酸总量显著下降,与S0组均差异显著（p<0.05）,但S9、S12和S15的基酸总量和必须氨基酸总量差异性不显著（p>0.05）。     

饥饿胁迫对瓦氏黄颡鱼脂肪代谢的影响

在水温(25±2)℃条件下,对初始体重为(23.65±2.82)g的瓦氏黄颡鱼进行30d饥饿处理,于饥饿第0、第7、第15和第30天取样,分析了饥饿胁迫对瓦氏黄颡鱼的生长、体成分、脂肪酸组成和脂肪代谢相关基因表达的影响。结果表明:饥饿胁迫显著降低了瓦氏黄颡鱼肥满度、脂体比及肝体指数(P0.05)。肌肉脂肪含量也随着饥饿时间的延长而下降(P0.05)。肝脏中的饱和脂肪酸和肌肉中的单不饱和脂肪酸显著下降,而肝脏中多不饱和脂肪酸和单不饱和脂肪酸及肌肉中的多不饱和脂肪酸显著上升(P0.05)。此外,肌肉中的n-6和n-3及肝脏中的n-6多不饱和脂肪酸显著上升,而肝脏中的n-3多不饱和脂肪酸显著下降(P0.05),表明瓦氏黄颡鱼饥饿期间主要消耗饱和脂肪酸及单不饱和脂肪酸供能,保留多不饱和脂肪酸。饥饿胁迫15—30d,瓦氏黄颡鱼肝脏脂蛋白酯酶、肝酯酶及肉碱酰基转运酶m RNA表达显著高于对照组(0d)(P0.05),而脂肪酸结合蛋白及脂肪酸合成酶m RNA的表达显著低于对照组(P0.05),表明饥饿胁迫可能会促进肝脏脂肪分解供能,降低脂肪的生物合成。     

稀有(鱼句)鲫的脂肪酸组成

稀有(鱼句)鲫汉源种群和彭州种群全鱼中共检测到3种饱和脂肪酸(SFA),它们是C14∶0、C16∶0、C18∶0.4种单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA),它们是C14∶1、C16∶1、C18∶1、C20∶1.4种多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA),它们是C18∶2、C20∶4、C20∶5(EPA)、C22∶6(DHA).SFA 占总脂肪酸的23.63-28.97%,MUFA 占40.73-54.32%,PUFA 占9.96-23.17%,EPA占0.41-1.74%,DHA占0.11-5.37%.EPA 含量一般低于 DHA.UFA(MUFA+PUFA)%＞SFA%,且 MUFA%＞PUFA%,n-3FA/n-6FA为0.33-0.99.此外还测定了鱼肌、内脏脂肪、肝脏、性腺等的脂肪酸组成和含量.     

西伯利亚鲟在高温下饥饿后的补偿生长

在高温(29±1)℃下将西伯利亚鲟幼鱼(21.61±0.03)g饥饿0(对照)、6、12和18d后恢复摄食3周,研究摄食、生长和鱼体组成的变化.结果表明,经过不同程度饥饿的鱼体重均显著低于对照组(P＜0.05),恢复摄食3周后,饥饿6d(S6组)和12d(S12组)的鱼体重与对照无显著差异(P＞0.05),而饥饿18d(S18组)的鱼体重显著低于对照(P＜0.05).在恢复摄食1周后,饥饿6d组(S6组)特定生长率和摄食率均显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),饥饿12d组(S12组)特定生长率和饲料效率显著高于对照组(P＜0.05),表明饥饿6d的西伯利亚鲟是通过提高摄食率来实现补偿生长,而饥饿12d的西伯利亚鲟是通过提高饲料效率来实现补偿生长.各饥饿组鱼体蛋白含量(占湿重)和干物质含量在整个实验过程中与对照组无显著差异(P＞0.05).在饥饿过程中,鱼体脂肪含量和肝脏肝糖原含量下降的同时,各饥饿组的灰分含量上升,但仅S18组与对照差异显著(P＜0.05).在恢复摄食1周后,饥饿组脂肪、肝糖原和灰分等体成分均恢复到正常水平(P＞0.05).结果表明,西伯利亚鲟在高温下表现出完全补偿现象,且是通过同时提高摄食率和饲料效率来实现补偿生长的,因此在夏季高温时对鲟鱼进行一段时间适度的饥饿可以在不影响生长和体成分的前提下节约饲料成本,减少因过量投饵而引起的环境污染.     

条石鲷仔、稚、幼鱼脂肪酸组成变化研究

通过采用GC/MS法研究了条石鲷(Oplegnathus fasciatus)仔鱼、稚鱼及幼鱼阶段的脂肪酸组成和变化特点。共检测到28种脂肪酸,其中饱和脂肪酸(SFA)13种,单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)7种,多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)8种。结果表明:条石鲷鱼苗内源性营养阶段以饱和脂肪酸C16∶0、C20∶0及单不饱和脂肪酸C16∶1、C18∶1作为能量代谢的主要来源;必需脂肪酸C20∶4(n-6)(AA)、C22∶5(n-3)(DPA)和C22∶6(n-3)(DHA)在稚鱼期含量较低,∑EPA+DHA仅为6.89%,认为是发生稚鱼"胀鳔病"的主要原因;仔鱼开口前体内的DHA和EPA是由母体卵黄提供的。     

西南大西洋春夏季阿根廷无须鳕脂肪酸组分的时空特性

阿根廷无须鳕(Merluccius hubbsi)是西南大西洋较为重要的鱼种,具较高的商业价值,为底拖网渔业的主要捕捞对象。本研究利用气相色谱质谱联用仪测定了阿根廷无须鳕肌肉组织脂肪酸组成,探究各脂肪酸含量,包括饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)和多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)随体长、月份和纬度的变化。结果表明:各类脂肪酸含量高低次序依次为∑PUFA∑SFA∑MUFA;主要脂肪酸包括C22:6n3(DHA)、C16:0、C18:1n9c、C20:5n3(EPA)和C18:0,其中DHA的含量最高,占总脂肪酸含量的35.27%;高PUFA/SFA表明阿根廷无须鳕肌肉可作为PUFA的补充原料;∑SFA和∑PUFA在小体长组个体中(20.1~30.0 cm)的含量较高,特别是DHA和EPA,使得n-3/n-6增加,说明相对较大个体而言,小个体阿根廷无须鳕的营养价值更高;除n-3/n-6外,其余脂肪酸含量均无显著的月份差异;1月最高的n-3/n-6说明肌肉组织在该月份具有较高的营养价值。鱼体各脂肪酸含量随纬度和表温变化不明显。     

许氏平鲉发育早期的氨基酸与脂肪酸组成及变化

为了研究许氏平鲉(Sebastes schlegelii)雌鱼体内受精后仔鱼开口前和仔鱼开口后两个阶段氨基酸和脂肪酸的组成变化规律, 采用生化常规方法定量测定并分析了许氏平鲉发育早期的受精卵(FE)、胚胎期(ES)、初产仔鱼(PL₁)、前仔鱼期(PL₂)、后仔鱼期(PL₃)和稚鱼期(J)6个阶段的氨基酸和脂肪酸组成特点及含量变动。结果表明: 总氨基酸含量从FE至PL₁显著下降, 至PL₃显著上升, 至J又显著下降(P<0.05); 游离氨基酸含量以FE最低(12.77 mg/g), 从FE到PL₁显著上升(P<0.05), 并在PL₁含量达到最高值(92.19 mg/g), PL₁发育到J呈现先下降后上升再下降的变化趋势(P<0.05), 游离氨基酸与总氨基酸的比值范围在2.37%—19.66%。在各发育阶段干样中检出碳链长度在C₁₄-C₂₄的29种脂肪酸, 分别为9种饱和脂肪酸(SFA)、9种单不饱和脂肪酸(MUFA)和11种多不饱和脂肪酸为(PUFA), 受精卵中主要脂肪酸依次为C_22:6n-3(DHA)、C_18:ln-9c、C_16:0和C_20:5n-3(EPA)。胚胎期(FE-ES)的脂肪酸利用率顺序为SFA、MUFA、n-6PUFA、n-3PUFA, 主要以C_18:3n-3、C_18:0、C_16:1n-7及C_20:5n-3(EPA)作为胚胎期的能量来源, C_22:6n-3(DHA)的实际利用率最低(9.71%), 被优先保存下来, C_16:0的实际利用量最高(10.94mg/g); 仔鱼内源营养阶段(ES-PL₁)脂肪酸利用率顺序为MUFA、n-6PUFA、SFA、n-3PUFA, 主要以C_16:1n-7、C_18:0、C_20:4n-6(ARA)及C_18:1n-9c作为开口前仔鱼的主要能量来源, 其中仔鱼对DHA实际利用量最高(18.23 mg/g)。PL₁-PL₃阶段DHA相对于EPA和ARA被选择性利用; PL₃至J阶段ARA相对于EPA和DHA被选择性利用。研究表明: 许氏平鲉仔鱼开口前阶段总氨基酸含量与游离氨基酸含量的变化趋势截然相反, 胚胎期与仔鱼内源营养阶段脂肪酸利用率和利用量均有所不同, 仔鱼期DHA优先被利用, 过渡至稚鱼期ARA优先被利用。建议在仔鱼开口后添加富含DHA生物性饵料, 仔鱼过渡到稚鱼期在配合饵料中添加ARA营养物质, 防止苗种营养不足, 保证成活率。     

饥饿处理对鳙鱼形态和肌肉营养成分的影响分析

为了研究饥饿处理对鳙鱼肌肉品质的影响,在水温(21.5±1)℃条件下研究了循环水养殖系统中饥饿0 (S0)、5 d (S5)、10 d (S10)、15 d (S15)、20 d (S20)和25 d (S25)对商品规格鳙鱼(平均体质量(1 396.61±87.55) g)形态学、肌肉生化组成、氨基酸和脂肪酸含量的影响。结果显示:随饥饿时间延长,肥满度、脏体比和肝体比呈逐渐降低趋势,肌肉组织中水分和灰分则呈现逐渐升高趋势,粗蛋白和粗脂肪百分含量随饥饿时间延续而降低;S25组组氨酸含量与S0组相比降低17.73%,S25组脯氨酸含量比S0组升高53.81%,组间差异显著;饥饿造成脂肪酸含量降低,与S0组相比S25组SFA降幅58.16%,MUFA降幅79.29%,PUFA降幅28.93%。研究结果表明通过饥饿处理程序可以有效提升鳙鱼肌肉品质。     

再投喂鱼油对瓦氏黄颡鱼肌肉脂肪酸组成的影响（英文）

为研究植物油替代鱼油对瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)生长及肌肉脂肪组成的影响及重投喂鱼油对瓦氏黄颡鱼肌肉脂肪酸组成的影响,实验以大豆油分别替代饲料中的0(FO)、50(S1)、75(S2)和100%(SO)的鱼油配制等氮、等能的颗粒饲料,每组设置3个平行,养殖80d后,再投喂鱼油30d。结果表明,饲料中添加豆油不会显著影响瓦氏黄颡鱼的增重率、肝体指数和体成分(P0.05)。随着饲料中大豆油含量的增加,S2和SO组肌肉中C18:1n-9、C18:2n-6和单不饱和脂肪酸比例显著增加(P0.05),而C20:5n-3,C22:5n-3及n-3/n-6比例显著下降(P0.05)。再投喂鱼油30d后,SO组肌肉中C18:3n-6、C20:4n-6、Σn-9、Σn-6和S2组中C18:1n-9、Σn-6比例显著下降(P0.05),而S2和SO组肌肉中Σn-3多不饱和脂肪酸、C20:5n-3和C22:5n-3比例显著增加(P0.05)。在生产中,可采用先植物油饲料、后鱼油饲料的养殖方式提高瓦氏黄颡鱼肌肉品质(增加有益人类健康的多不饱和脂肪酸)。     

饥饿对小规格斑点叉尾鮰体重及鱼体生化组成的影响

将180尾初始体重为（41.9 ± 0.5）g的斑点叉尾鮰放养于18个室内容积为300L的水族箱中进行饥饿处理12周,每箱放10尾,每2周取样一次,研究长期饥饿胁迫下斑点叉尾鮰生长和鱼体生化组成的变化,尤其是肌肉氨基酸和脂肪酸组成的变化。实验结果表明：斑点叉尾鮰的体重、肥满度、脏体比、肝体比和脂体比随着饥饿时间的延长显著降低（p < 0.05）;饥饿过程中全鱼的蛋白质、脂肪含量显著下降（p < 0.05）,水分含量显著增加（p< 0.05）,而灰分含量变化不大;肌肉中蛋白质含量前6周变化不显著（p > 0.05）,而6周后显著降低（p < 0.05）,脂肪、糖原和灰分含量随着饥饿时间的延长显著降低（p < 0.05）,水分含量显著增加（p < 0.05）;肝脏中的蛋白质和水分含量随饥饿时间的延长显著上升（p < 0.05）,粗脂肪和糖原的含量则显著下降（p < 0.05）;在12周的饥饿时间内,总的必需氨基酸所占的百分比变化不显著（p > 0.05）,而总的必需氨基酸和总的非必需氨基酸的比值显著增加（p < 0.05）;斑点叉尾鮰肌肉中总饱和脂肪酸、总单不饱和脂肪酸和n-6 系列脂肪酸的百分含量显著下降（p < 0.05）,而总的n-3系列脂肪酸含量显著增加（p < 0.05）。n-3/n-6脂肪酸的比值随饥饿时间的延长而显著升高（p < 0.05）。以上结果说明：斑点叉尾鮰在饥饿条件下优先动用机体的贮存性物质（脂肪和糖原）作为能源的供给物,而后才被迫动用组织或器官中的功能性物质蛋白质;长期饥饿胁迫下斑点叉尾鮰优先保留必需氨基酸及EPA、DHA等高度不饱和脂肪酸。     

稀有鮈鲫的脂肪酸组成

稀有鲫汉源种群和彭州种群全鱼中共检测到 3种饱和脂肪酸 (SFA) ,它们是C1 4∶0、C1 6∶0、C1 8∶0。 4种单不饱和脂肪酸 (MUFA) ,它们是C1 4∶1、C1 6∶1、C1 8∶1、C2 0∶1。 4种多不饱和脂肪酸 (PUFA) ,它们是C1 8∶2、C2 0∶4、C2 0∶5 (EPA)、C2 2∶6 (DHA)。SFA占总脂肪酸的2 3 6 3— 2 8 97% ,MUFA占 40 73— 5 4 3 2 % ,PUFA占 9 96— 2 3 1 7% ,EPA占 0 41— 1 74% ,DHA占 0 1 1— 5 3 7%。EPA含量一般低于DHA。UFA(MUFA +PUFA) % >SFA % ,且MUFA % >PUFA % ,n 3FA/n 6FA为 0 3 3— 0 99。此外还测定了鱼肌、内脏脂肪、肝脏、性腺等的脂肪酸组成和含量     

基于氨基酸组成分布的蛋白质同源寡聚体分类研究

基于一种新的特征提取方法——氨基酸组成分布,使用支持向量机作为成员分类器,采用“一对一”的多类分类策略,从蛋白质一级序列对四类同源寡聚体进行分类研究。结果表明,在10-CV检验下,基于氨基酸组成分布,其总分类精度和精度指数分别达到了86.22%和67.12%,比基于氨基酸组成成分的传统特征提取方法分别提高了5.74和10.03个百分点,比二肽组成成分特征提取方法分别提高了3.12和5.63个百分点,说明氨基酸组成分布对于蛋白质同源寡聚体分类是一种非常有效的特征提取方法;将氨基酸组成分布和蛋白质序列长度特征组合,其总分类精度和精度指数分别达到了86.35%和67.23%,说明蛋白质序列长度特征含有一定的空间结构信息。     

PELIZAEUS-MERZBACHER DISEASE: BRAIN LIPID AND FATTY ACID COMPOSITION

Abstract— Biochemical analysis of the leukodystrophy brain from a case of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease, classical type, was performed. A decrease in the amount of solid material present was found. The lyophilized brain weight was reduced to 76% of normal with a slightly greater decrease in the amount of extractable lipid. Total myelin was diminished to 7% of normal. Among specific lipids plasmalogens were present in slightly lowered amounts. Cerebrosides and sulphatides were drastically reduced to 8% of normal, whereas sphingomyelin was less severely affected. Fatty acids from phospholipids were close to normal, only enols being slightly diminished. Analysis of pure cerebrosides and sulphatides revealed that the a-hydroxylated compounds as well as very long chain fatty acids (over C₁₈, especially C₂₃ to C₂₆) were greatly reduced. For chain lengths over C₁₈, the ratio of leukodystrophy fatty acid to normal fatty acid was close to 10%. The defect in very long chain fatty acids is estimated at 99.2% in total brain.
Thus, we have found a marked decrease in the amount of very long chain fatty acids and a less marked decrease in sphingolipids. The reduced amount of these acids appears to be partially offset by an increase in the amount of medium-chain fatty acids in sphingolipids. We conclude that one aspect of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease may be a defect in the synthesis of myelin very long chain fatty acids (as these acids are far much reduced than any other myelin molecule).     

FATTY ACID CONTENT AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF FRESHWATER MICROALGAE1

Fatty acid (FA), total lipid, protein, amino acid, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content was analyzed in 24 samples of freshwater microalgae. The samples originated from batch, continuous, or mass cultures in various growth phases and from net samples from lakewater. FA were analyzed quantitatively by using an internal standard in a GLC system and expressed as mg·g^?1 dry weight (DW). The FA of one group of blue-greens (e.g. Oscillatoria and Microcystis) were similar to those of the greens with higher amounts of 18C acids of the ω3 type compared to the ω6 type, whereas the other group (e.g. Anabaena and Spirulina) contained mostly ω6 acids. The flagellates, a taxonomically diverse group, were characterized by high amounts of long-chained (20–22 C) polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), particularly of the ω3 type. The ω3/ω6 ratio appears to be highest in algae in the exponential growth phase. The increased lipid content in stressed algae was mostly due to increased saturated fatty acids and ω6 acids, whereas the valuable ω3 acids were unchanged or even decreased. Amino acid composition (% of total amino acids) did not vary much betaken species, but when analyzed quantitatively (mg-g^?1 DW), varied considerably between species and within species in different growth phases. The nitrogen and phosphorus contents were variable in all three algal groups. The relationship between PUFA and phosphorus content differed among the algal groups. The data suggest that PUFA in the phospholipids consist mostly ω3 acids.     

BIOCHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND FATTY ACID CONTENT OF FILAMENTOUS NITROGEN-FIXING CYANOBACTERIA

The biochemical composition and fatty acid content of twelve strains of filamentous, heterocystous, nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria have been determined. When grown under diazotrophic conditions, protein, carbohydrate, lipid, and nucleic acids comprised 37–52%, 16–38%, 8–13%, and 8–11% of the dry weight, respectively. The presence of a combined nitrogen source resulted in an increase in the protein content of the cells and a decrease in the levels of lipids and carbohydrates, although biomass productivity was not affected significantly. Biochemical composition also changed during culture growth, with the highest levels of proteins and lipids occurring as the culture entered stationary phase, whereas the highest levels of carbohydrate and nucleic acids were found during the exponential phase. Total fatty acid levels in the strains assayed ranged between 3 and 5.7% of the dry weight. With regard to fatty acid composition, all strains showed high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and saturated fatty acids (SAFAs), with values of 24–45% and 31–52% of total fatty acids, respectively, whereas the levels of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) were in general lower (11– 32%). Palmitic acid (16:0) was the most prevalent SAFA, whereas palmitoleic (16:1n- 7) and oleic acid (18:1n-9) were the most abundant MUFAs in all the strains. Among PUFAs, γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 18:3n-6) was present at high levels (18% of total fatty acids) in Nostoc sp. (Chile) and at lower levels (3.6% of total fatty acids) in Anabaenopsis sp. The presence of GLA has not been previously reported in these genera of cyanobacteria. The rest of the strains exhibited high levels (12–35% of total fatty acids) of α-linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3n-3). Linoleic acid (18:2n-6) was also present at a substantial level in most of the strains. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) was also detected in Nostoc sp. (Albufera). Some filamentous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria therefore represent potential sources of commercially interesting fatty acids.     

COMPOSITION OF RIBONUCLEIC ACID FROM VARIOUS PARTS OF SPIDER OOCYTES

Microphoretic purine-pyrimidine analyses of the ribonucleic acid (RNA) in nucleoli, nucleoplasm, cytoplasm, and yolk nuclei of spider oocytes have been carried out. The material necessary for the analyses was isolated by micromanipulation. Determinations of the amounts of RNA in the different parts of the cell were also performed. No differences between the composition of RNA in the nucleolus and the cytoplasm could be disclosed. Nucleoplasmic RNA was, on the other hand, distinctly different from that in the nucleolus and in the cytoplasm. The difference lies in the content of adenine, which is highest in nucleoplasmic RNA. The few analyses carried out on yolk nuclei showed their RNA to be variable in composition with a tendency to high purine values. The cytoplasm contains about 99 per cent of the total RNA in these cells, the nucleoplasm about 1 per cent, and the nucleolus not more than 0.3 per cent, although the highest concentrations are found in these latter structures. When considered in the light of other recent findings the results are compatible with the view that nucleolar RNA is the precursor of cytoplasmic RNA.     

THE FATTY ACID AND STEROL COMPOSITION OF FIVE MARINE DINOFLAGELLATES

The fatty acid and sterol compositions of five species of marine dinoflagellates (Scrippsiella sp. Symbiodinium microadriaticum Freud, Gymnodinium sp., Gymnodinium sanguineum Hirasaki, and Fragilidium sp.) are reported. All contained the major fatty acids that are considered common in dinoflagellates, but the proportions were quite variable, and some species contained low contents of some polyunsaturated fatty acids. Concentration ranges for the major fatty acids were: 16:0 (9.0%–24.8%), 18:4(n-3) (2.5%–11.5%), 18:5(n-3) (7.0%–43.1%), 20:5(n-3) (EPA) (1.8%–20.9%), and 22:6(n-3) (DHA) (9.9%– 26.3%). Small amounts of novel very-long-chain highly unsaturated C₂₈ fatty acids occurred in all species. Each dinoflagellate contained a complex mixture of 4-methyl sterols and 4-desmethyl sterols. Four species contained cholesterol, although the amounts were highly variable (from 0.2% of total sterols in Scrippsiella sp. to 45.6% in Fragilidium sp.). All but G. sanguineum contained the 4-methyl sterol dinosterol, and all species contained sterols lacking a double bond in the ring system (i.e. stanols); in Scrippsiella sp. cholestanol composed 24.3% of the total sterols. Other common features of the 4-methylsterol profiles were the presence of 23,24-dimethyl alkylation and unsaturation at Δ²² in the side chain. In Scrippsiella sp., four steroidal ketones were identified: cholestanone, dinosterone, 4α,23,24-trimethyl-5α-cholest-8(14)-en-3-one, and dinostanone. The structures of these corresponded to the major sterols in this species, suggesting that the sterols and steroidal ketones are biosynthetically linked. Steroidal ketones were not detected in the other species. Although fatty acid profiles can be used to distinguish among algal classes, they were not useful for differentiating among dinoflagellate species. In contrast, whereas some taxonomic groupings of dinoflagellates display similar sterol patterns, others, such as the gymnodinoids studied here, clearly do not. The combination of fatty acid, sterol, and steroidal ketone profiles may be useful complementary chemotaxonomic tools for distinguishing morphologically similar species. The identification of steroidal ketones supports earlier suggestions that certain dinoflagellates might be a significant source of such components in marine environments.