Column Chromatographic Separation of Chlorophyllide {alpha} and Pheophorbide {alpha}

Chlorophyllide a, pheophorbide a, chlorophyll a and pheophytina were separated in a short time by anion-exchange chromatographywith a short column of DEAE-Sepharose CL-6B. (Received February 16, 1984; Accepted April 13, 1984)     

Content of arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids in polar lipids from Gracilaria (Gracilariales,Rhodophyta)

Fatty acid composition, especially the distribution of eicosapolyenoic acids in several species of Gracilaria, was analyzed in relation to their taxonomy. The species have been grouped into two types based on distribution of these polyenoic acids: Type 1, which contains palmitic, oleic and arachidonic acids as the major components, and Type II, which contains eicosapentaenoic acid in addition to Type I fatty acids. Octadecapolyenoic acids were detected only in trace amounts in each Type. A similar remarkable difference also was observed in the fatty acid composition of lipid classes. The major component of eicosapolyenoic acids in Type I was arachidonic acid in all lipid classes. In Type II, eicosapentaenoic acid was the major component in monogalactosyl diacylglycerol, digalactosyl diacylglycerol, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Arachidonic and eicosapentaenoic acids were contained in large amounts in Type II phosphatidylcholine. Grouping of Gracilaria species into Type I and Type II is not entirely consistent with morphological and taxonomic features, but the difference in fatty acid composition is likely due to genetic rather than to environmental factors.     

Recent trends in nori products and markets in Asia

Since 1960s, modern techniques for nori (Porhyra) cultivation, artificial seeding of conchospores, floatingnet cultivation and freeze storage of nets, have been introduced into Japan, Korea and China. Owing to recent developments of these techniques, mechanization of processing and adaptation of fast-growing varieties of Porphyra, annual yield of nori have increased rapidly. Individual problems have, however, arisen in each country. In Japan, as the result of overproduction of nori, the farmers' profit level has, in general, decreased. As a consequence, the number of nori farmers, especially among those who would enter the industry, has declined markedly, and this is currently a serious problem. In Korea, there is a pressing need to improve the quality of nori, which is more important than increasing production. In China, the technical level of producing high quality Porphyra through cultivation and processing high quality nori is relatively undeveloped. There is thus a critical requirement to develop basic techniques in both cultivation and processing of nori in China.     

Characterization of Sulfoquinovosyl Diacylglycerol from Marine Red Algae

Sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol (SQDG) from a red alga, Gracilariaverrucosa, contained high levels of saturated fatty acids, palmiticand myristic acids. The lipid was separated by normal-phasethin-layer chromatography (TLC) into two spots which differedin terms of the color generated by the anthron reagent and interms of constituent fatty acids. However, chromato-graphicand spectrometric (NMR and IR) analyses indicated that boththe upper and the lower fractions were SQDG. The upper fractionwas mainly composed of 20:4/16:0 species, while the major speciesin the lower fraction was mainly 14:0/16:0 and 16:0/16:0. Comparisonof mobilities of SQDG from various sources by TLC confirmedthat the chain length of acyl groups significantly affectedthe Rf value. The short-chain saturated acid species of SQDGwas also detected in marine red algae, Gracilaria textorii,Gelidium amansii, Chondrus ocellatus and Chon-dria crassicaulis. (Received December 9, 1988; Accepted May 10, 1989)