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Altritol synthesis by Notheia anomala
J A Raven1, J Beardall, J A Chudek
1School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Vic 3800, Clayton, Australia. j.a.raven@dundee.ac.uk
Phytochemistry
|September 15, 2001
Summary
The brown alga Notheia synthesizes altritol, a sugar alcohol found in few species. This finding impacts our understanding of altritol evolution in the Fucales order.
Area of Science:
- Marine Botany
- Phycology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Altritol, a linear hexitol, is exclusively found in six genera of brown algae within the Fucales order.
- Five of these genera are phylogenetically related, while Notheia is an epiphyte on two other altritol-producing genera.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether the epiphyte Notheia synthesizes altritol or acquires it from its host algae.
- To explore the evolutionary implications of altritol synthesis in Fucales.
Main Methods:
- 13C-inorganic carbon was supplied to Notheia and its host alga Hormosira.
- Mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis were used to detect 13C enrichment.
Main Results:
- Notheia, when separated from Hormosira during 13C exposure, showed 13C enrichment in both altritol and mannitol.
- Hormosira only exhibited significant 13C labeling in mannitol.
Conclusions:
- Notheia possesses the capability to synthesize altritol independently.
- The study suggests multiple independent gains and losses of altritol synthesis capacity during Fucales evolution.