Fatty Acids of Dunaliella tertiolecta and Skeletonema costatum Grown in the Presence of Phenyltin Compounds

H. M. Mooney, J. W. Patching, J. J. Cooney, C. M. Baisden

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3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The fatty acid compositions of a marine chlorophyte, Dunaliella tertiolecta Butcher and a marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve, which exhibit different resistances to phenyltin, were studied. Under similar growth conditions, the fatty acid profiles of both the chlorophyte and the diatom were similar to those reported by other authors studying the same, or closely related species. Batch cultures of D. tertiolecta grown for 72 h contained a spectrum of fatty acids with chain lengths from 12 to 24 carbons, 52% of which were unsaturated and 23% of which were polyunsaturated (PUFA's). Major fatty acids in D. tertiolecta were 16:0, 16:2 and 18:1. Skeletonema costatum grown under similar conditions contained fatty acids with chain lengths from 14 to 24 carbons. Major fatty acids were 14: 0, 16 : 0 and 16: 1. Unsaturates made up 52% of total fatty acids while 22% of total fatty acids were PUFA's. In order to test the hypothesis that sensitivity to phenyltins is related to their fatty acid composition, attempts were made to culture D. tertiolecta in the presence of triphenyltin (TPhT) ranging in concentration from 0.0021 to 0.21 μM, and S. costatum in the presence of TPhT and diphenyltin (DPhT) in concentrations ranging from 0.000084 to 0.0084 μM and 0.0084 to 0.84 μM respectively. Growth occurred in all cultures except for D. tertiolecta exposed to 0.21 μM TPhT. Growth of S. costatum was inhibited at 0.084 μM DPhT and higher concentrations. The fatty acid composition of 72 h cultures grown in the presence of phenyltins was examined. Exposure of D. tertiolecta to TPhT resulted in a 45% increase in monounsaturated fatty acids with a concomitant decrease in total PUFA's. Growth of S. costatum in the presence of either phenyltin did not alter the proportion of total unsaturates, total monounsaturates or total PUFA's. There was no apparent correlation between the fatty acid composition of the algae tested and their sensitivity to phenyltins.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)423-430
Number of pages8
JournalBotanica Marina
Volume38
Issue number1-6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1995

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