Algal Biochemicals Flashcards
What composes a cyano cell wall?
A peptidoglycan layer composed of a variety of amino acids and 2 sugars.
1) N-acetylmuramic acid
2) N- acetylglucosimine
What protects cyanophyta from desiccations?
Their “sheath”; composed of mucilage (polysaccharides and a number of amino acids) and cellulose.
Ex of earliest EPS (extra polymeric substances)
Sheath of cyano; high molecular weight molecules composed of polysaccharides and proteins. Biofilm formation foundations.
Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Thylakoids/Pigments)
Chl A
Phycobilisomes (4 types)
Some chl b
Carotenoids
Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Ribosomes)
70s ribosomes (protein formers) throughout protoplasm but higher density in the center.
Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (N storage for cyanos)
Cyanophycin granules
Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Carboxysoms)
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.
Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Polyphosphate bodies)
Storage of phosphates (similar to lipid storage in euks)
Inside the cyanobacteria protoplasm. (Polyglucan granules)
Sugar granules present in actively photosynthesizing cyanos. Sugar has to go somewhere after it’s synthesized!
-Gas vacuoles are also found in the protoplasm
Extra cellular biochemical contributions of cyanos.
- N fixers (some)
- Photosynthesizers (some)
- EPS generators
- Tactic movements that alter community photo and chemo (quorum sensing)
- Produce Toxins
What toxins?!
- 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
Rhodophyta: Industrial?
- 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
Agar
- 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
Carrageenan
- 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
Chlorophyta cell walls are usually made of what?
Cellulose (most abundant polymer on earth)
What is an eyespot?
Lipid droplets located within the chloroplast, govern photodetection and promote phototaxis.