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Fatty Acid Biomarkers of Symbionts and Unusual Inhibition of Tetracosapolyenoic Acid Biosynthesis in Corals (Octocorallia)

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Lipids

Abstract

Seven zooxanthellae-free species of octocorals (the genera Acanthogorgia, Acabaria, Chironephthya, Echinogorgia, Menella, Ellisella, and Bebryce) and two zooxanthellate octocorals (the genera Paralemnalia and Rumphella) were examined to elucidate their fatty acid (FA) composition. Arachidonic (about 40% of the total FA) and palmitic acids were predominant in all the species studied. Seven furan FA (F-acids) (up to 9.7%) were identified in the azooxanthellate octocorals. The main F-acids were 14,17-epoxy-15-methyldocosa-14,16-dienoic and 14,17-epoxy-15,16-dimethyldocosa-14,16-dienoic acids. In all specimens of Bebryce studeri, C25–28 demospongic FA (about 20%) were identified. These FA reflect the presence of a symbiotic sponge in B. studeri and can be used as the specific markers for other corals. A significant difference (P < 0.01) between azooxanthellate and zooxanthellate corals was found for odd-chain and methyl-branched saturated FA, 18:1n-7, and 7-Me-16:1n-10; that indicated the presence of an advanced bacterial community in azooxanthellate corals. The zooxanthellate species were distinguished by significant amounts of 18:3n-6, 18:4n-3, and 16:2n-7 acids, which are proposed as the markers of zooxanthellae in soft corals. Contrary to the normal level of 24:5n-6 (9.4%) and 22:4n-6 (0.6%), unexpected low concentrations of 24:5n-6 (0.4%) accompanied by a high content of 22:4n-6 (up to 11.9%) were detected in some specimens. The presence of an unknown factor in octocorals, specific for n-6 PUFA, which inhibited elongation of 22:4n-6 to 24:4n-6, is conjectured.

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Abbreviations

ECL:

Equivalent chain length

F-acids:

Furan fatty acids

FA:

Fatty acids

FAME:

Fatty acid methyl esters

GC:

Gas chromatography

GC–MS:

Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acids

TLC:

Thin-layer chromatography

VLC:

Very-long-chain

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the grant 07-03-90001-Viet from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research.

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  1. Laboratory of Comparative Biochemistry, A. V. Zhirmunsky Institute of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Palchevskogo str., 17, 690041, Vladivostok, Russia

    Andrey B. Imbs, Darya A. Demidkova, Tatyana N. Dautova & Nikolay A. Latyshev

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  1. Andrey B. Imbs
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  2. Darya A. Demidkova
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  3. Tatyana N. Dautova
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  4. Nikolay A. Latyshev
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Correspondence to Andrey B. Imbs.

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Imbs, A.B., Demidkova, D.A., Dautova, T.N. et al. Fatty Acid Biomarkers of Symbionts and Unusual Inhibition of Tetracosapolyenoic Acid Biosynthesis in Corals (Octocorallia). Lipids 44, 325–335 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-008-3266-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-008-3266-2

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