Algal Biochemicals Flashcards

1
Q

What composes a cyano cell wall?

A

A peptidoglycan layer composed of a variety of amino acids and 2 sugars.

1) N-acetylmuramic acid
2) N- acetylglucosimine

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2
Q

What protects cyanophyta from desiccations?

A

Their “sheath”; composed of mucilage (polysaccharides and a number of amino acids) and cellulose.

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3
Q

Ex of earliest EPS (extra polymeric substances)

A

Sheath of cyano; high molecular weight molecules composed of polysaccharides and proteins. Biofilm formation foundations.

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4
Q

Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Thylakoids/Pigments)

A

Chl A
Phycobilisomes (4 types)
Some chl b
Carotenoids

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5
Q

Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Ribosomes)

A

70s ribosomes (protein formers) throughout protoplasm but higher density in the center.

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6
Q

Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (N storage for cyanos)

A

Cyanophycin granules

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7
Q

Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Carboxysoms)

A

CO2 fixing proteins; 2 types alpha and beta found in C non-limiting envs and C limiting env respectively. Also responsible for HCO3- fixation into CO2 to be fixed by rubisco.

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8
Q

Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Polyphosphate bodies)

A

Storage of phosphates (similar to lipid storage in euks)

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9
Q

Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Polyglucan granules)

A

Sugar granules present in actively photosynthesizing cyanos. Sugar has to go somewhere after it’s synthesized!
-Gas vacuoles are also found in the protoplasm

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10
Q

Extra cellular biochemical contributions of cyanos.

A
  • N fixers (some)
  • Photosynthesizers (some)
  • EPS generators
  • Tactic movements that alter community photo and chemo (quorum sensing)
  • Produce Toxins
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11
Q

What toxins?!

A
  • Neurotoxins: Alkaloids; block neuron transmission ex: anatoxin, saxotoxin
  • Hepatotoxins: inhibit protein phosphatases 1 and 2A, leads to liver bleeding.
  • Allelopathy: 1) Zebra Muscle and 2) Dino
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12
Q

Rhodophyta: Industrial?

A
  • Floridian starches; great storage products of sugars.
  • Cell walls of multicellular reds are made of cellulose.
  • Cell walls of unicellular reds are a matrix of sultanate polysaccharides AKA mucilage; 2 types.
    1) agar
    2) Carageenan
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13
Q

Agar

A
  • Only soluble in hot water
  • Composed of agarose and agropectin (both polysaccharides)
  • Used for gelling of foods, agar plates, cannings, thickening
  • Inert carrier of drug products for ingestion and sometimes used as a laxative
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14
Q

Carrageenan

A
  • Not as sturdy as a gel vs agar; requires higher concentrations to solidify
  • K- and lamda cargeenans are principle components
  • More in the cosmetic side of industry but still used in foods.
  • Known to inhibit HIV replication
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15
Q

Chlorophyta cell walls are usually made of what?

A

Cellulose (most abundant polymer on earth)

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16
Q

What is an eyespot?

A

Lipid droplets located within the chloroplast, govern photodetection and promote phototaxis.

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17
Q

Lipid droplets can make up >__% of periplasmic mass.

A

40%

18
Q

Why are eyespots usually red?

A

From the carotenoids.

19
Q

What are the storage products in Euglenophyta?

A

Paramylon and chrysolaminarin. (Carbs similar to starches)

20
Q

Euglenophyta requires what?

A

Vitamin B

21
Q

What’s special about eyespot in euglenophyta?

A

It’s independent of chloroplast.

22
Q

Euglenophyta is _________ phototactic.

A

Negatively

23
Q

In Euglenophyta, the eyespot consists of lipid droplets sometimes up to ___.

A

50.

24
Q

What occurs under this Euglenophyta pellicle?

A

Musciferous bodies made up of water soluble polysaccharides. They are ejected to produce slime around cell. (more EPS)

25
Q

Chloroarachniophya (Biochemicals)

A

Amoeboid; predatory and are hypothesized to be chemotactic.

26
Q

What is special about pigments in crytophyta?

A

They vary with light intensity.

27
Q

What nutrients do cryptophyta require?

A

Vitamin B and Thiamin

28
Q

Where are the starch storage products found between?

A

Chloroplast membranes.

29
Q

Bad bad cryptophyta…

A

They are responsible for catfish kills in freshwater lakes on TX but no toxins were ever reported.

30
Q

Why does flagella vestibule open and close in cryptophyta?

A

Due to presence of protein Centrin.

31
Q

What do cryptos dire?

A

Ejectisome protein ribbons.

32
Q

Haptophyta blooms lead to what?

A

High levels of DMS. (Volatile)

33
Q

How does Haptos affect Salmon?

A

Salmon loss due to Prymnesium parvum bloom.

34
Q

Where is the rubisco in haptos derived from?

A

Proteiobacteria as opposed to cyanos. (Horizontal gene transfer)

35
Q

In Haptos what is calcification dependent on?

A

Photosynthetic success. (ATP -> NADPH needed for transport)

36
Q

Class Bacillariophyceae

A
  • Diatoms storage products are lipids and chrysolaminarin.
  • Unsaturated fatty acids defenses produce aldehydes in nature which are detrimental to developmental stages of invert predators.
37
Q

Dinophyta are thieves.

A

They can steal plastids from food sources!!

38
Q

If Dinos have eyespots, they are….

A

lipid basedf.

39
Q

Dino Nucleus?

A

Within the nucleus! Chromatin organization of later lineages so unique we call it dinokaryotic. Even nuclear division is more advances in this group.

40
Q

Dinophyta are bioluminescent…

A

Luciderin oxidized by luciferase enzyme.