The binding of selenium to the lipids of two unicellular marine algae

Axenic cultures of the green algae Dunaliella primolecta and red algae Porphyridium cruentum were grown in the presence of sublethal quantities of selenite. All purified lipids from both algae were found to contain bound selenium, except for saturated hydrocarbons. Of the lipids which contain selenium, carotenoid pigments contain the greatest concentrations. Lipid-associated selenium is not metabolically incorporated. The selenium is probably non-covalently bound to the lipids.