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Morphology, phylogeny and fatty acid profiles of Meyerella similis from freshwater ponds and Meyerella krienitzii sp. nov. from soil (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta)

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Abstract

The taxonomic diversity of the algal genus Meyerella is difficult to study because of its very simple morphology. Within the Chlorella-clade Meyerella members are distinguished from the others by the absence of the pyrenoid. However, it is not possible to identify them only on the basis of light microscopy data without the involvement of molecular genetic analysis methods. Some Meyerella representatives have high biotechnological potential, because they are able to accumulate valuable metabolites, including polyunsaturated fatty acids. As a rule, water bodies are the main habitats for these green microalgae. However, strains ACSSI 428 and ACSSI 429, which described in detail in this study, were isolated from peat cryozems (Sakha Republic, Russia). In this study, a detailed comparative analysis of the morphology, phylogeny and fatty acid profiles of these strains isolated from soil and representatives of other planktonic species, primarily Myerella similis, was carried out. Based on the results obtained, it was found that the studied strains are representatives of a new species with high biotechnological potential – Myerella krienitzii sp. nov.

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Data availability

All authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this study are available within the article and its supplementary material. In addition, raw data supporting this study's findings are available from the corresponding author upon a reasonable request.

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Funding

The work was funded by Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, state assignment of Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, theme №122040500037–6 (sampling, isolation and cultivation, morphological observation, and phylogenetic analysis), by the Russian Science Foundation, grant No 22–16-00047 (analysis of fatty acids).

GC–MS analysis was carried out using the equipment of the Center for Collective Use of the "Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences".

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Federal Research Center “Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research of the Russian Academy of Sciences”, 142290, Pushchino, Russian Federation

    E. S. Krivina, T. V. Savchenko, E. M. Tebina, A. V. Shatilovich & A. D. Temraleeva

  2. Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 190000, Russian Federation

    A. V. Shatilovich

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  1. E. S. Krivina
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  2. T. V. Savchenko
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Elena Krivina, Tatyana Savchenko, Elizaveta Tebina, Anastasia Shatilovich, and Anna Temraleeva contributed equally to this work.

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Krivina, E.S., Savchenko, T.V., Tebina, E.M. et al. Morphology, phylogeny and fatty acid profiles of Meyerella similis from freshwater ponds and Meyerella krienitzii sp. nov. from soil (Trebouxiophyceae, Chlorophyta). J Appl Phycol 35, 2295–2307 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-023-03038-4

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