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Interactions between P-limitation and different C conditions on the fatty acid composition of an extremophile microalga

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Abstract

The extremophilic microalga Chlamydomonas acidophila inhabits very acidic waters (pH 2–3.5), where its growth is often limited by phosphorus (P) or colimited by P and inorganic carbon (CO2). Because this alga is a major food source for predators in acidic habitats, we studied its fatty acid content, which reflects their quality as food, grown under a combination of P-limited and different carbon conditions (either mixotrophically with light + glucose or at high or low CO2, both without glucose). The fatty acid composition largely depended on the cellular P content: stringent P-limited cells had a higher total fatty acid concentration and had a lower percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids. An additional limitation for CO2 inhibited this decrease, especially reflected in enhanced concentrations of 18:3(9,12,15) and 16:4(3,7,10,13), resulting in cells relatively rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids under colimiting growth conditions. The percentage of polyunsaturated to total fatty acid content was positively related with maximum photosynthesis under all conditions applied. The two factors, P and CO2, thus interact in their effect on the fatty acid composition in C. acidophila, and colimited cells P-limited algae can be considered a superior food source for herbivores because of the high total fatty acid content and relative richness in polyunsaturated fatty acids.

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Abbreviations

Alpha (α):

Initial slope of the photosynthesis–irradiance curve

ANCOVA:

Analysis of covariance

Beta (β):

Slope at high irradiances that describes photo-inhibition

DGDG:

Digalactosyldiacylglycerol

FA:

Fatty acid

I:

Actinic light intensity

K m(CO2) :

Half saturation constant for CO2 uptake

μ:

Growth rate

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acid

Mixotrophy:

Growth on glucose and light

P:

Phosphorus

Pr:

Photosynthetic rate

P max :

Maximum photosynthetic rate

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid

Q p :

Cellular P quota

R d :

Dark respiration rate

SFA:

Saturated fatty acid

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Acknowledgments

This work has been supported by the German research foundation (DFG, SP695/2 and SP695/4) to ES and (WA2445/4-1) to AW. We greatly acknowledge the technical assistance of Silvia Heim and Cathleen Friedrich.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469, Potsdam, Germany

    Elly Spijkerman

  2. Department of Theoretical Aquatic Ecology, University of Potsdam, Am Neuen Palais 10, 14469, Potsdam, Germany

    Alexander Wacker

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  1. Elly Spijkerman
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  2. Alexander Wacker
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Correspondence to Elly Spijkerman.

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Communicated by A. Oren.

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Spijkerman, E., Wacker, A. Interactions between P-limitation and different C conditions on the fatty acid composition of an extremophile microalga. Extremophiles 15, 597 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00792-011-0390-3

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