Abstract
Toxin production was measured by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) when the marine dinoflagellate Protogonyaulax tamarensis (NEPCC 255) was grown under nitrogen or phosphorus limitation. The major toxins found in P. tamarensis (255) consisted of (N21-SO -3 )STX (11%), (N21-SO -3 )NeoSTX (44%), and [(N21-SO -3 )GTX2 plus (N21-SO -3 )GTX3] (20%). Total toxin content on a per cell basis was high for cultures in log phase (30 to 40 fmol cell-1) and then decreased to ca 20 fmol cell-1 as the cultures entered stationary phase. There was a gradual decrease in the toxin content per cell during nitrogen-limited stationary phase to ca 3 fmol cell-1 or less. Phosphorus-limited cultures showed a markedly different response than nitrogen-limited cultures. Toxin content in P-limited cells dramatically increased at the start of stationary phase, reaching levels 3 to 4 times that observed in control and nitrogen-limited cultures. These results cannot be explained by changes in the average cell volume. Eventhough dramatic effects on the total toxin concentration were observed in response to nutrient limitation (N or P), the toxin composition (on a percent basis) remained constant. This suggests that the individual toxin composition of a given isolate is a fixed genetic trait and not a transient response to changing environmental factors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Literature cited
Bates, H. A., R. Kostriken and H. Rapoport: The occurrence of saxitoxin and other toxins in various dinoflagellates. Toxicon 16, 595–601 (1978)
Boyer, G. L., J. J. Sullivan, R. J. Andersen, P. J. Harrison and F. J. R. Taylor: Toxin production in three isolates of Protogonyaulax sp. In: Toxic dinoflagellates, pp 281–286. Ed. by D. M. Anderson, A. W. White and D. G. Baden. New York: Elsevier/North Holland 1985
Boyer, G. L., J. J. Sullivan, R. J. Andersen, F. J. R. Taylor, P. J. Harrison and A. D. Cembella: Use of high-performance liquid chromatography to investigate the production of paralytic shellfish toxins by Protogonyaulax spp. in culture. Mar. Biol. 93, 361–369 (1986)
Cembella, A. D., N. J. Antia and P. J. Harrison: The utilization of inorganic and organic phosphorus compounds as nutrients by eukaryotic microalgae: a multidisciplinary perspective: Part 1. Crit. Rev. Microbiol. 10, 317–391 (1984)
Cembella, A. D., J. J. Sullivan, G. L. Boyer, F. J. R. Taylor and R. J. Andersen: Toxin variability within the Protogonyaulax tamarensis/catenella species complex. Biochem. Syst. Ecol. 15, 171–186 (1987)
Dortch, Q., J. R. Clayton, Jr., S. S. Thoresen and S. I. Ahmed: Species differences in accumulation of nitrogen pools in phytoplankton. Mar. Biol. 81,237–250 (1984)
Fuhs, G. W., S. D. Demmerle, E. Cannelli and M. Chen: Characterization of phosphorus-limited plankton algae. In: Nutrients and eutrophication. Ed. by G. E. Likens, Am. Soc. Limnol. Oceanogr. Spec. Symp. 1, 113–133 (1972)
Hall, S.: Toxins and toxicity of Protogonyaulax from the northeast Pacific, 196 pp. Ph.D. thesis, University of Alaska 1982
Harrison, P. J., R. E. Waters and F. J. R. Taylor: A broad spectrum artificial seawater medium for coastal and open ocean phytoplankton. J. Phycol. 16, 28–35 (1980)
Kodama, M., Y. Kukuyo, T. Ogata, T. Igarashi, H. Kamiya and F. Matsuura: Comparison of toxicities of Protogonyaulax cells of various sizes. Bull. Japan. Soc. Sci. Fish. 48, 567–571 (1982)
Maranda, L., D. Anderson and Y. Shimizu: Comparison of toxicity between populations of Gonyaulax tamarensis of Eastern North American waters. Estuar. cstl Shelf Sci. 21, 401–410 (1985)
Oshima, Y. and T. Yasumoto: Analysis of toxins in cultured Gonyaulax excavata cells originating in Ofunato Bay, Japan. In: Toxic dinoflagellate blooms, pp 377–381. Ed. by D. L. Taylor and H. H. Seliger. New York: Elsevier/North Holland 1979
Prakash, A.: Growth and toxicity of a marine dinoflagellate, Gonyaulax tamarensis. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 24, 1589–1606 (1967)
Prézelin, B. B.: Effects of light intensity on aging of the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax polyedra. Mar. Biol. 69, 129–135 (1982)
Proctor, N. H., S. L. Chan and A. J. Trevor: Production of saxitoxin by cultures of Gonyaulax catenella. Toxicon 13, 1–9 (1975)
Schmidt, R. J. and A. R. Loeblich, III: Distribution of paralytic shellfish poison among Pyrrophyta. J. mar. biol. Ass. U.K. 59, 479–487 (1979)
Sullivan, J. J. and M. M. Wekell: Determination of paralytic shellfish poisoning toxins by high pressure liquid chromatography. In: Seafood toxins, pp 197–205. Ed. by E. P. Ragelis. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society 1984
Taylor, F. J. R.: Toxic dinoflagellates: taxonomic and biogeographic aspects with emphasis on Protogonyaulax. In: Seafood toxins, pp 77–97. Ed. by E. P. Ragelis. Washington, D.C.: American Chemical Society 1984
White, A. W.: Salinity effects on growth and toxin content of Gonyaulax excavata a marine dinoflagellate causing paralytic shellfish poisoning. J. Phycol. 14, 475–479 (1978)
White, A. W.: High toxin content in the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax excavata in nature. Toxicon 24, 605–610 (1986)
White, A. W. and L. Maranda: Paralytic toxins in the dinoflagellate Gonyaulax excavata and in shellfish. J. Fish. Res. Bd Can. 35, 397–402 (1978)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Communicated by J. P. Grassle, Woods Hole
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Boyer, G.L., Sullivan, J.J., Andersen, R.J. et al. Effects of nutrient limitation on toxin production and composition in the marine dinoflagellate Protogonyaulax tamarensis . Marine Biology 96, 123–128 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394845
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00394845