Preliminary characterization of carbohydrate stores from chlorarachniophytes (Division: Chlorarachniophyta) |
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| Authors: | G I McFadden P R Gilson I M Sims |
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| Institution: | Plant Cell Biology Research Centre, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia;Cooperative Research Centre for Industrial Plant Biopolymers, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Parkville 3052, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Chlorarachniophytes are amoeboid/flagellate eukaryotes that harbor reduced green algal endosymbionts. The carbohydrate stores of chlorarachniophyte algae have been investigated using methylation analysis to determine monosaccharide composition. An appreciable quantity of long chain β-1,3 glucan occurs in these algae. Immunogold electron microscopy using an antibody specific for (β-1,3 glucans localized (β-1,3 glucans within a vacuole in the host cell cytoplasm. The results suggest that photosynthate produced by the endosymbiont is stored by the host. Implications of the data for endosymbiosis are discussed. |
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| Keywords: | β-1 3 glucans carbohydrate storage Chlorarachnion chlorarachniophytes endosymbiosis |
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