1-O-Alkylglyceryl Ether Lipids of the Gut Walls and Contents of an Abyssal Holothurian (Oneirophanta mutabilis)

Vera L C S Santos,George A Wolff,David S M Billett

doi:10.1590/s0103-50532002000500018

Abstract

A study of the glyceryl ether composition of free lipids of gut walls and contents of an abyssal holothurian species, Oneirophanta mutabilis has been carried out. A series of saturated and unsaturated 1-O-alkylglyceryl ethers with alkyl side chains ranging from C15 to C21 were detected inthe gut walls and contents of O. mutabilis. Glyceryl ethers accounted for 5-12% of the total free lipids contents. Foregut, midgut and hindgut walls and contents have identical 1-O-alkylglyceryl ether compositions. The C16:0, C16:1, C17:0, C18:0 and C18:1 are the main glyceryl ethers with C18:0 being dominant. The total organic carbon (TOC) and nitrogen (N) contents were also evaluated in gut contents of the digestive tract of O. mutabalis and these decreased from foregut to hindgut. The average assimilation efficiencies were estimated to be 40 and 55% for TOC and N respectively.

Highlights

Glyceryl ethers are widely distributed in nature
In this paper we present the results of the examination of glyceryl ethers in free lipids of the gut walls and contents of five specimens of Oneirophanta mutabilis, a species of abyssal holothurian, in order to evaluate quantitatively
Assimilation efficiencies were determined by difference between the descending midgut and hindgut contents[15] for total organic carbon and total nitrogen

Summary

Introduction

Glyceryl ethers are widely distributed in nature. Their biological significance has remained relatively obscure, glyceryl ether lipids have been the focus of investigations in a great variety of samples. Holothurians are important because they dominate the invertebrate community in large parts of the deep ocean,[11] and have a substantial influence on other benthic fauna through their feeding, faecal production and even locomotion. They play an important role in modifying surficial sediments and in structuring the communities that live within it.[12, 13]

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Conclusion