Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

“Oil hyphae” of endolithic lichens and their fatty acid composition

  • Original Papers
  • Published:
Protoplasma Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The structure of medullary oil hyphae of twelve endolithic lichen species, belonging to different taxa and colonizing different habitats, was examined by light and electron microscopy. The chemical composition of lipids isolated from the oil hyphae and from two corresponding mycobionts grown in culture was determined.

The oil hyphae of the various species appeared in different forms and contained large amounts of lipid in the form of oil globules. The hyphae of mycobionts isolated from two of the endoliths and grown in culture also contained large amounts of lipids. Triacylglycerol was the predominant lipid component in all the organisms examined. Hexadecanoic acid was the main saturated fatty acid; octadecenoic acid and octadecdienoic acid the predominant unsaturated fatty acids. Tetradecanoic, hexadecenoic, octadecanoic and octadectrienoic acids were also detected.

The fatty acid distribution pattern appeared unaffected by the nature of substrate and climatic conditions. There is a certain similarity in the fatty acid composition in related species.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahmadjian, V., 1967: The lichen symbiosis. Waltham, Mass.: Blaisdell Publishing Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bachmann, E., 1919: Der Thallus der Kalkflechten mitChroolepus, Scytonema undXantho-capsa-Gonidien. Abh. Kaiserl. Leop.-Carol. Deutsch. Akad. Naturf.105 (1). Halle.

  • Bianchi, D. E., 1964: An endogenous circadian rhythm inNeurospora crassa. J. gen. Microbiol.35, 437–445.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bracker, C. E., 1967: Ultrastructure of fungi. Ann. Rev. Phytopathol.5, 343–374.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dertien, B. K., De Kok, L. J., Kuiper, P. J. C., 1977: Lipid and fatty acid composition of tree-growing and terrestrial lichens. Physiol. Plantarum40, 175–180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doppelbaur, H. W., 1959: Studien zur Anatomie und Entwicklungsgeschichte einiger endolithischen pyrenocarpen Flechten. Planta53, 246–292.

    Google Scholar 

  • Folch, J., Lees, M., Sloane Stanley, G. H., 1957: A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissue. J. biol. Chem.226, 497–509.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fry, E. J., 1922: Some types of endolithic lichens. Ann. Bot.35, 541–562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karnovsky, M. J., 1965: A formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde fixative of high osmolarity for use in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol.27, 137A-137B.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kushnir, E., Galun, M., 1977: The fungus-alga association in endolithic lichens. Lichenologist9, 123–130.

    Google Scholar 

  • McKeen, W. E., 1970: Lipid inErysiphe graminis hordei and its possible role during germination. Canad. J. Microbiol.16, 1041–1044.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mumma, R. O., Fergus C. L., Sekura, R. D., 1970: The lipids of thermophilic and mesophilic fungi. Lipids5, 100–103.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Raju, K. S., Maheshwari, R., Sartry, P. S., 1977: Lipids of some thermophilic fungi. Lipids11, 741–746.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rattray, J. B. M., Schibeci, A., Kidby, D. K., 1975: Lipids of yeasts. Bacteriol. Rev.39, 197–231.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Schlenk, H., Gellerman, J. L., 1960: Esterification of fatty acids with diazomethane on small scale. Anal. Chem.32, 1412.

    Google Scholar 

  • — —, 1965: Arachidonic, 5,11,14,17-eicosatetraenoic and related acids in plants-identification of unsaturated fatty acids. J. Amer. Oil Chem. Soc.42, 504–511.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sorokin, H., 1967: The spherosomes and the reserve fat in plant cell. Amer. J. Bot.54, 1008–1016.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stein, O., Stein, Y., 1967: Lipid synthesis, intracellular transport, storage and secretion. J. Cell Biol.33, 319–339.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weete, J. D., 1974: Fungal lipid biochemistry. Monographs in lipid research I (Kritchevsky, D., ed.). New York and London: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wehmer, C., 1891: Entstehung und physiologische Bedeutung der Oxalsäure im Stoffwechsel einiger Pilze. Bot. Z.49, 233–638.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamamoto, Y., Watanabe, A., 1974: Fatty acid composition of lichens and their phyco- and mycobionts. J. gen. appl. Microbiol.20, 83–86.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany, The Dr. George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    E. Kushnir

  2. Department of Biochemistry, The Dr. George S. Wise Faculty for Life Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel

    A. Tietz & M. Galun

Authors
  1. E. Kushnir
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. Tietz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Galun
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work forms part of a dissertation to be submitted by E.Kushnir to the Department of Botany, Tel-Aviv University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kushnir, E., Tietz, A. & Galun, M. “Oil hyphae” of endolithic lichens and their fatty acid composition. Protoplasma 97, 47–60 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01276389

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01276389

Keywords

Search

Navigation