Sterol composition of some mediterranean green algae

The distribution of sterols in ten Mediterranean green algae has been examined. Clionasterol is typical for the Siphonocladales and all the species of the Siphonales not belonging to the genus Codium, which is characterized by clerosterol. 28-Isofucosterol has been confirmed to be characteristic of the Ulotrichales.     

The comparative aspects of cell wall chemistry in the green algae (chlorophyta)

Summary The origin of a cell wall was an event of fundamental importance in the evolution of plants. In the green algae, cell walls apparently had independent origins in at least three lines of evolution. In this paper, the components of the cell wall were determined and compared in four filamentous green algae representing the charophycean, chlorophycean and ulvacean evolutionary lines. The walls of all four have hydroxyproline-containing proteins which separate into five or six bands upon SDS gel electrophoresis. Variation does exist, with the charophyte possessing fast moving electrophoretic bands and high hydroxyproline content, the chlorophytes having intermediate movement of bands and lower hydroxyproline content, and the ulvacean representative possessing slow moving bands and a very low, if not questionable, hydroxyproline and saccharide content. Qualitative and quantitative estimates of wall proteins and sugars have been determined and compared. A hypothetical scheme of cell wall evolution based on these data, those of previous analyses, and recent phylogenetic schemes is presented. Although sound conclusions cannot be made until more information is available, the scheme might help to emphasize the areas most in need of additional research.This work was supported by National Science Foundation Grant DEB 78-03554.     

Chemical composition,protein digestibility and heat of combustion of filamentous green algae

The filamentous green algae investigated (Hormidium sp. strainHindák 1963/21,Ulothrix sp. strainHindák 1964/2,Uronema gigas Visch. strainVischer/Bloom. 174,Uronema sp. strainHindák 1963/25 andStigeoclonium sp. strainHindák 1964/1), contain similar amounts of proteins, lipids, cellulose and ash as the hitherto used production strains of the generaChlorella andScenedesmus. The digestibility of proteins in vitro is about one-third higher in the filamentous algae than in the employed referenceScenedesmus quadricauda strainGreifswald/15, used in Czechoslovakia as a model production strain. The heats of combustion of the filamentous algae are relatively lower (5519–5923 cal/g dry weight) than in the reference strain (6145 cal/g dry weight). From the point of view of application of filamentous green algae to mass cultivation their advantages over the presently employed chlorococcal algae (Chlorella, Scenedesmus) consist in a pronouncedly greater digestibility of their proteins without special technological treatment of the material obtained and a greater production of biomass.     

Cell wall composition of chlorococcal algae

The cell walls of representatives of the genera Chlorella, Monoraphidium, Ankistrodesmus and Scenedesmus contained 24–74% neutral sugars, 1–24% uronic acids, 2–16% protein and 0–15% glucosamine. Two types of cell walls could be discerned containing as main sugars either rhamnose and galactose or mannose and glucose with a lack of galactose.     

Chemical composition and serological analysis of the cell wall of Peptostreptococcus

Bahn, Arthur N. (Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.), Patrick C. Y. Kung, and James A. Hayashi. Chemical composition and serological analysis of the cell wall of Peptostreptococcus. J. Bacteriol. 91:1672-1676. 1966.-Chemical and serological analyses were made of the cell wall of Peptostreptococcus to characterize taxonomically this genus of anaerobic streptococci. Cell wall hydrolysates of P. putridus strains 06 and 85, P. intermedius strains 11 and 87, and P. elsdenii strain B-159 were prepared, and the cell wall sugars were measured quantitatively by paper chromatography. Strain 85 contained only glucose, whereas strain 06 contained 93% glucose and 7% mannose. Strain 87 contained only rhamnose, and strain 11 contained approximately equal amounts of glucose and rhamnose. Strain B-159 differed from all the other strains in having a low (3.1%) content of total carbohydrate, consisting of rhamnose, galactose, and glucose. Quantitative amino acid analyses showed that the major amino compounds present in the cell wall were glutamic and aspartic acids, alanine, lysine, muramic acid, glucosamine, and galactosamine. Strains 06 and 85 possessed this complement of amino compounds, but strains 11 and 87 had relatively little aspartic acid. Strain B-159 was markedly different in having a high content of glycine and diaminopimelic acid, with only traces of lysine; it was the only strain in which teichoic acid was found. Serological analyses were made with the use of cell wall extracts as antigenic material and with homologous antisera, as well as streptococcal group antisera for groups A through S. The only strong agglutination was obtained between strain 87 antigen and group C antisera; weak agglutination was obtained with 87 against N, O, and K, and between strain 11 and groups E and F. All other antisera gave negative reactions. It is concluded that strain B-159 does not belong to the genus Peptostreptococcus, that strains 06 and 85 are members of P. putridus, and that strains 11 and 87 may be members of two different genera.     

Cell surface characterization of some oleaginous green algae

This study reports a comprehensive set of experimentally measured surface properties of six oleaginous green microalgae. The results showed that the hydrophobic character of the six microalgae, determined by the contact angle method, was more accurate than by using the microbial adhesion to solvents (MATS) method. However, they both indicated that all studied microalgae presented an electron donor parameter. Due to the abundant surface carboxyl, phosphoryl, and hydroxyl groups, all microalgae presented a negatively charged surface. Monoraphidium dybowoskii XJ-377 was the most hydrophobic strain with a negative ΔG _coh and the lowest surface free energy. Kirchneriella dianae XJ-93 had the lowest total surface functional group concentration and the lowest surface area, which can lower the harvesting cost. Overall, cellular surface properties should be evaluated and considered in oleaginous microalgal screening and identification in addition to the biomass and oil production normally considered.     

Chemical composition and structure of cell wall teichoic acids of staphylococci

The cell wall teichoic acid structures of 22 staphylococci including 13 type strains were determined. Most of the strains contain a poly(polyolphosphate) teichoic acid with glycerol and/or ribitol as polyol component. The polyolphosphate backbone is partially substituted with various combinations of sugars and/or amino sugars. Most of the substituents occur in a monomeric form but some strains also contain dimers of N-acetylglucosamine as substituents. Staphylococcus hyicus subsp. hyicus NCTC 10350 and S. sciuri DSM 20352 revealed rather complex cell wall teichoic acids. They consist of repeating sequences of phosphate-glycerol-phosphate-N-acetylglucosamine. The amino sugar component is present in this case as a monomer or an oligomer (n less than or equal to 3). Moreover, the glycerol residues are partially substituted with N-acetylglucosamine. The cell wall teichoic acid of S. auricularis is a poly(N-acetylglucosaminyl-phosphate) polymer similar to that found in S. caseolyticus ATCC29750. The cell wall teichoic acid structures for type strains of S. auricularis, S. capitis, S. cohnii, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, S. hyicus subsp. hyicus, S. sciuri, S. xylosus and S. warneri were determined for the first time in detail. The structures of some of the previously described teichoic acids had to be revised (S. epidermidis, S. simulans, S. aureus phage type 187).     

XET activity is found near sites of growth and cell elongation in bryophytes and some green algae: new insights into the evolution of primary cell wall elongation

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In angiosperms xyloglucan endotransglucosylase (XET)/hydrolase (XTH) is involved in reorganization of the cell wall during growth and development. The location of oligo-xyloglucan transglucosylation activity and the presence of XTH expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in the earliest diverging extant plants, i.e. in bryophytes and algae, down to the Phaeophyta was examined. The results provide information on the presence of an XET growth mechanism in bryophytes and algae and contribute to the understanding of the evolution of cell wall elongation in general. METHODS: Representatives of the different plant lineages were pressed onto an XET test paper and assayed. XET or XET-related activity was visualized as the incorporation of fluorescent signal. The Physcomitrella genome database was screened for the presence of XTHs. In addition, using the 3' RACE technique searches were made for the presence of possible XTH ESTs in the Charophyta. KEY RESULTS: XET activity was found in the three major divisions of bryophytes at sites corresponding to growing regions. In the Physcomitrella genome two putative XTH-encoding cDNA sequences were identified that contain all domains crucial for XET activity. Furthermore, XET activity was located at the sites of growth in Chara (Charophyta) and Ulva (Chlorophyta) and a putative XTH ancestral enzyme in Chara was identified. No XET activity was identified in the Rhodophyta or Phaeophyta. CONCLUSIONS: XET activity was shown to be present in all major groups of green plants. These data suggest that an XET-related growth mechanism originated before the evolutionary divergence of the Chlorobionta and open new insights in the evolution of the mechanisms of primary cell wall expansion.     

Chemical composition of hips essential oils of some Rosa L. species

The chemical composition of the hips essential oils of 9 taxa of Rosa L. was analyzed and compared using the standardized analytical GC and GC/MS methods. The volatile hips oil compositions for these species are presented. All oil samples were dominated by following components: vitispiran (isomer), a-E-acaridial, dodecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, docosane (C22), beta-ionone, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one, 2-heptanone, heptanal, myristic acid and linolic acid. Statistical analyses of 97 GC peaks of these oils were used to distinguish compositional patterns. There appeared to be correlation between the essential oil patterns and the classification within Rosa L. Cluster analysis of the composition of main components clearly showed two groups, one constituted by R. rugosa Thunb. from the Cinnamomea section, and the other constituted by the remaining taxa from the Caninae section.     

Biodegradation of dyes by some green algae and cyanobacteria

The ability of Chlorella vulgaris, Lyngbya lagerlerimi, Nostoc lincki, Oscillatoria rubescens, Elkatothrix viridis and Volvox aureus to decolorize and remove methyl red, orange II, G-Red (FN-3G), basic cationic, and basic fuchsin was investigated. These algae showed different efficiency for colour removal; varied from 4 to 95% according to the algal species, its growth state and the dye molecular structure. Basic cationic and basic fuchsin were the most susceptible dyes for decolorisation and removal by all algae being tested, and up to 82% of methyl red was also removed by N. lincki and O. rubescens. However, the algal activity to decolorize orange II and G-Red was markedly fluctuated and lower. C. vulgaris displayed activity to remove 43.7 and 59.12% while as V. aureus removed 5.02 and 3.25% of the added dyes respectively. The results also showed that treatment of either C. vulgaris or N. Linckia with G-Red or methyl red, respectively, induced the algal azo dye reductase enzyme by 72 and 71% at the same order.     

Notes on the ecology of some species of fresh-water algae

Summary Data are given on the ecology of some 50 species of fresh-water algae. The response of species to temperature, light intensity and a current of water is recorded in a table and notes on the habitat factors important for most species are given. Data are from both field and laboratory observations. An attempt is made to group species according to their response to important habitat factors.

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Zusammenfassung Angaben über die Ökologie von 50 Arten von Süßwasseralgen werden gegeben. Die Reaktion der Arten auf Temperatur, Lichtstärke und Wasserströmung wird angegeben, zusammen mit Bemerkungen über die Habitatsumstände, die für meiste Arten wichtig sind. Die Angaben stammen von Laboratorien and Feldbeobachtungen.Ein Versuch werde gemacht, die Arten nach ihren Reaktionen auf wichtige Habitatsfaktoren zu klassifizieren.State University of New York at Binghamton

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North Carolina State University at Raleigh     

Chemical and structural similarities in wall polysaccharides of some Penicillium, Eupenicillium and Aspergillus species

Various fractions were extracted from cell-wall material of Eupenicillium crustaceum, Penicillium brevi-compactum, P. decumbens, Aspergillus flavipes and A. ochraceus. The most characteristic fractions, which may have chemotaxonomic relevance, were F1I, an alpha-(1-3) glucan (alkalisoluble, water-insoluble), which amounted to 16.2-32.5% of the cell-wall material, and F1S (alkali and water-soluble) which represented 2.5-6.2% of the cell-wall material and was identified as a beta-(1-5) galactan. 13C-NMR spectra of the F1S fractions showed the same pattern for all the fungal species, characteristic of beta-(1-5) linked galactofuranose.     

Herbicide effects on the population growth of some green algae and cyanobacteria

Six herbicides were tested for their effects on the population growth of a range of green algae and cyanobacteria by an easily replicated low-volume liquid culture technique using Repli-dishes. Diuron, propanil and atrazine were most inhibitory, chlorpropham was intermediate and MCPA and glyphosate were least inhibitory. Chlorpropham was more inhibitory to green algae than to cyanobacteria. The effects of chlorpropham and 3-chloroaniline, a metabolite, on populations of the cyanobacterium Anacystis nidulans and the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardii were monitored in larger scale batch cultures. Both compounds reduced the growth rate although in some cases there was partial recovery. 3-Chloroaniline was less inhibitory than the parent herbicide chlorpropham.