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Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in zooxanthellae and polyps of corals

  • Biochemistry
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Abstract

The fatty acid (FA) composition of zooxanthellae, polyp tissue, and intact colonies was determined in soft coral Sinularia sp. and hard coral Acropora sp. Analysis of the distribution of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) among the zooxanthellae and the host organism showed that 18: 3n-6 and C18–22 PUFAs of the n-3 series (18: 4n-3, 20: 5n-3, 22: 5n-3, and 22: 6n-3) were mainly synthesized by the zooxanthellae and that C20–22 PUFAs of the n-6 series (20: 3n-6, 20: 4n-6, and 22: 4n-6) were synthesized in the polyp tissue. Soft coral polyps were able to synthesize tetracosapolyenoic FAs (24: 5n-6 and 24: 6n-3) and 18: 2n-7, their zooxanthellae synthesized C16 PUFAs (16: 2n-7, 16: 3n-4, and 16: 4n-1). It is supposed that the biosynthesis of 16: 2n-7 in Sinularia sp. and 18: 3n-6 in Acropora sp. is catalyzed by Δ6 desaturase. The relatively even distribution of three FAs (18: 2n-6, 18: 3n-6, and 16: 2n-7) among lipids of zooxanthellae and coral polyps indicates the possible transport of these FAs between symbionts and the host organism.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Marine Biology, Far East Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, 690041, Russia

    A. B. Imbs, I. M. Yakovleva & N. A. Latyshev

  2. Institute of Natural Product Chemistry VANT, Hanoi, Vietnam

    L. Q. Pham

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  1. A. B. Imbs
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  2. I. M. Yakovleva
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  3. N. A. Latyshev
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  4. L. Q. Pham
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Correspondence to A. B. Imbs.

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Original Russian Text © A.B. Imbs, I.M. Yakovleva, N.A. Latyshev, L.Q. Pham, 2010, published in Biologiya Morya.

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Imbs, A.B., Yakovleva, I.M., Latyshev, N.A. et al. Biosynthesis of polyunsaturated fatty acids in zooxanthellae and polyps of corals. Russ J Mar Biol 36, 452–457 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063074010060076

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063074010060076

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